University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Take One of Two from Pittsburgh
4/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
GAME 1 - ,
GAME 2 - ,
STORRS, Conn. (April 16) – The University of Connecticut softball team split a doubleheader with the University of Pittsburgh, falling in game one, 2-1 in nine innings and winning game two, 3-1 in BIG EAST action at the UConn Softball Field on Saturday afternoon. With the split, the Huskies’ record stands at 14-20 overall, 4-8 in the BIG EAST, while the Panthers hold a 16-20 record and are 3-3 in conference play.
Through the first six innings of game one, senior Jessica Gurney (Williamstown, Mass.) held Pittsburgh to just one hit, a single by Christa Hunter in the second inning, until the Panthers finally broke the scoreless deadlock in the seventh. Francesca DiMaria belted a leadoff double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Then with one out, Sheena Hellon doubled, driving in DiMaria to put the Panthers out in front, 1-0.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Huskies answered, however, with a leadoff homer by freshman Christine Keeton (Spokane, Wash.) to tie the score. Two errors gave UConn runners on first and third with two outs, but sophomore Holly Calcagno (Cedar Grove, N.H.) grounded out, sending the game into extra innings.
Pittsburgh scored the deciding run in the top of the ninth as DiMaria opened the inning with a solo blast to centerfield. She went 2-for-4 at the plate in the contest with two runs scored and an RBI.
Gurney pitched the entire nine innings and took the loss (8-11), allowing two runs on four hits with one walk and ten strikeouts. Christa Hunter earned the victory (8-9) for the Panthers as she also pitched nine innings and allowed one run on six hits with no walks and three strikeouts.
In game two, Connecticut took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. After freshman Allie Gendron (Noblesville, Ind.) struck out to start off the inning, back-to-back walks were issued to seniors Suzy de Bary (Roxbury, Conn.) and Stephanie DiBiase (Hamilton, N.J.). This set up Keeton for an RBI single up the middle that plated de Bary.
Keeton drove in another run for the Huskies in the fourth with her second leadoff blast of the day. She finished the afternoon hitting 3-for-7 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored. Senior Mandy Schettini (Coxsackie, N.Y.) added the Huskies third and final run with a solo homer, which also came in the fourth inning.
Pittsburgh threatened in the sixth, beginning with back-to-back singles, but the team managed to plate only one run in the inning as Gurney secured the win (9-11), pitching seven innings and allowing one run on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Meghan Bostick started for the Panthers and took the loss as she went four innings and allowed three runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Laura Belardinelli relieved her and pitched two innings and allowed one hit with no walks and two strikeouts.
The Huskies continue their stint at home with another conference doubleheader tomorrow, April 17, against Notre Dame with game one beginning at 11:00 A.M.
