University of Connecticut Athletics
Softball Dominates Holy Cross, 11-0
3/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
UConn 11, Holy Cross 0 [], []
WORCESTER, Mass. (March 29, 2006) - On the strength of doubles by freshman Danielle Del Ponte (Tewksbury, Mass.) and Jillian Ortega (Aberdeen, N.J.) and a home run by sophomore Christine Keeton (Spokane, Wash.), the University of Connecticut softball team defeated Holy Cross, 11-0, on Wednesday afternoon. The Huskies are now 14-11 on the season while the Crusaders slip to 3-10 on the season.
UConn got things started offensively in the top of the second inning. Del Ponte reached base on an error by the second baseman to open the inning and then advanced to second on a single by Ortega. Two batters later, Keeton drove them in on her home run to give UConn the early 3-0 advantage.
The score remained that way until the top of the third when Del Ponte and Ortega hit their doubles as the second and third batters of the inning. Del Ponte scored on Ortega's double and then Ortega crossed the plate herself on a single by junior Holly Calcagno (Cedar Grove, N.J.) to increase the Huskies lead to five runs.
In the top of the fourth inning, freshman Sarah Neuschwander (Chugiak, Alaska) opened with a single and then crossed the plate on an error by the leftfielder following a single by freshman Micah Truax (South Glen's Falls, N.Y.). Freshman Meghan Tierney (Salem, Conn.) also singled in the early stages of the inning and then scored on a single by junior Jessica Quan (Stockton, Calif.).
Following Quan's single, sophomore Allie Gendron (Amherst, Mass.) reached first on a walk. A single by Del Ponte drove in both Truax and Quan, and Gendron crossed the plate herself one batter later on another single, this one by senior Erica Pernell (Plainville, Conn.). Del Ponte scored UConn's sixth run of the inning and the final run of the game on a sacrifice fly by Calcagno.
Senior Michelle Caouette (Wyantskill, N.Y.) picked up the win on the mound for UConn. In her five innings of work, she scattered three hits and struck out four batters. The senior is now 5-4 on the season.
The Huskies will be in action next on Saturday, April 1 when they travel to South Bend, Ind. for a double header at Notre Dame. The first game is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m. EST.
