By Michael Letendre

MERIDEN – The Bristol Eastern softball team isn’t exactly playing like a squad that is currently carrying a 1-3 ledger.

And like Monday afternoon’s contest from the Dunn Sports Complex in Meriden, Maloney trailed early in its battle against the Lancers.

But a huge third inning by the home team gave Maloney the lead for good as the squad snared an 11-8 win in a CCC South engagement – moving to 5-1 overall on the campaign.

The Lancers, playing their third close game in a row, fell for the third time in four tries this season.

Eastern never gave in from the plate and kept Maloney’s infield and outfield in motion throughout the challenge.

Jazmyn Brown led the charge for the Lancers with three hits, including a double and triple.

She scored three runs and went 3-of-4 overall from the dish.

Brooklynne Whitlock went 2-of-3 with an RBI, Emily Valentine nabbed three hits in four at bats, also tallying both a double and triple while notching three runs, and Makayla Antunes went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.

Ashley Serafin also had a day, going 2-of-4, scoring a run and scooping in a team-high three RBI.

Georgia Showerda led the offensive charge for the Spartans with three hits, including a double, and an RBI.

In the circle, Hailey Beebe (2 IP, 6 ER, 2 BB) drew a tough loss for the Kingstreeters.

Serafin threw a solid four innings, allowing just five hits, three earned runs and two walks.

Maloney’s freshman chucker, Stella Cicero, went the full seven innings and somehow staved off an aggressive Eastern offense.

She won the game behind an 11-hit effort that included five earned runs, two walks and three strikeouts.

Eastern notched four runs in the top of the first inning and led 5-3 through two frames of action.

But Maloney put a little pressure on Eastern with a six-run third to snare a 9-5, never to trail again.

The Lancers grabbed two runs in the fifth and one more in the seventh to close the deficit to three in the end.

Eastern simply never got over the hump as the Spartans squared up a big 11-8 victory to win its fifth straight contest.

Special Challenge on Wednesday

The Kingstreeters have another home game today but won’t be playing the showdown on King Street.

Double-tough South Windsor at 6 p.m. from Casey Field in Bristol.

Bristol Eastern Softball – CCC South Action 

MALONEY 11, BRISTOL EASTERN 8 

from the Dunn Sports Complex, Meriden 

Bristol Eastern (1-3)          410 020 1 – 8 11 x 

Maloney (5-1)   216 002 x – 11 11 x 

WP – Stella Cicero (Maloney); LP – Hailey Beebe (Bristol Eastern) 

Bristol Eastern Batting 

2B – Jazmyn Browne, Emily Valentine 

3B – Jazmyn Browne, Emily Valentine, Makayla Antunes 

HR – None

Maloney Batting 

2B – Morgan Pelletier (2), Georgia Showerda 

3B – Hannah Yale 

HR – None  

Records: Maloney 5-1 overall; Bristol Eastern 1-3