University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Power Past Holy Cross, 8-3 in Home Opener
4/5/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Huskies Power Past Holy Cross, 8-3 in Home Opener
STORRS, Conn. (Apr. 5) -- The University of Connecticut softball team used three early homeruns to power past Holy Cross, 8-3, in the Huskies’ 2005 home opener on Tuesday afternoon. UConn improves to 8-14 overall on the year, while the Crusaders fall to 7-12 overall.
Holy Cross jumped out in front, 1-0, in the first inning as Mary Beth Ryan led off with a walk and later scored on a one out single by Megan Lally.
The Huskies came out swinging in the bottom half of the inning, however. Senior Mandy Schettini (Coxsackie, N.Y.) opened up with a solo shot to left to tie the score at one. Sophomore Jessica Quan (Stockton, Calif.) followed with a double to right field then came home on an RBI single by freshman Allie Gendron (Noblesville, Ind.). Sophomore Holly Calcagno (Cedar Grove, N.J.) continued the offensive outburst with a single to left and senior Jen D’Angelo (Wyomissing, Pa.) drove in Gendron with a hit up the middle. With runners on second and third, Senior Stephanie DiBiase (Hamilton, N.J.) broke the game open with a three-run blast over the left field fence to put the Huskies in front, 6-1.
UConn would add two more runs in the contest as Quan hit a leadoff homer in the second. She went 3-for-4 on the afternoon with an RBI and three runs scored. D’Angelo brought home the eighth and final run for the Huskies in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly that plated Quan.
The Crusaders plated two runs in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Nicole Dessingue, but it would not be enough as UConn freshman Ashley Thody (Middletown, Conn.) quieted the rally. She allowed two runs on four hits with three strikeouts in three innings of relief work. Senior Jessica Gurney (Williamstown, Mass.) started and pitched two innings, allowing one run on three hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Junior Michelle Caouette (Wynantskill, N.Y.) picked up the win for (2-8) as she pitched two innings for the Huskies and did not allow a hit with thee walks and four strikeouts.
Erica McKeever took the loss (0-1) for Holy Cross as she allowed seven runs on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts in two innings of work. Lindsey MacNeil threw four innings for the Crusaders and allowed one run on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Connecticut travels to Chestnut Hill, Mass., for a doubleheader against Boston College on Wednesday, April 6, with game one beginning at 3:00 p.m.
