University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Travel To Fresno For Bayer CropScience Classic
3/8/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 8, 2012
Storrs, Conn.- This weekend (March 9 - March 13) the UConn women's softball team will travel to Fresno, California to compete in the Bayer CropScience Classic, hosted by Fresno State University. The team will kick off the weekend with a doubleheader first facing San Diego State (13-11) at 5:30 p.m., then go head to head with host Fresno State (12-7) at 10:30 p.m. The Huskies look to turn their luck around after opening the season with a 1-4 record.
UConn opens the tournament Friday facing the San Diego State Aztecs, who are fresh off an 8-0 run-rule victory, which lasted only five innings against the University of Maine. After which the Huskies will be tested against Fresno State in the nightcap. Fresno State is coming of a win over Charlotte in the San Diego State Classic with pitcher Michelle Moses, who threw her third straight shut out victory against Charlotte, taking the mound. Moses posted 17 strikeouts last outing and sports a .65 ERA in 43 innings pitched.
Saturday's contests will leave the Huskies little time to rest, as the team will look at another doubleheader, first facing Oregon at 12:00 p.m., then a rematch against Fresno State at 8:30 p.m. Oregon has had a strong start to the season going 13-3, already winning the Cathedral City Classic in Palms Springs, Calif.
The Huskies then set their sights on Butler, as they are set to play at 10:30 p.m. in Sunday's lone contest. Butler is coming off a disappointing loss to Arkansas in the Woo Pig Classic, where despite late game heroics, the team fell short losing 6-5. Arkansas will look to pitchers sophomore Leah Bry and senior right-hander Breanna Fisher to lead the Bulldogs in their match against the Huskies.
UConn then will round out the weekend with another doubleheader before traveling back to Storrs, with two contests against Cal State Bakersfield, set for Tuesday (March 13). The first match is planned to start at 3:00 p.m., followed by an evening game that starts at 7:00 p.m. The Roadrunners have had a disappointing season thus far starting 4-12. Cal State will turn its focus to UConn after playing in the NorthRidge Classic where the Roadrunners will compete against Maine and Harvard.
The Huskies will look for leadership from senior Amy Vaughan (Somerset, Mass), who is leading the team with a .400 batting average combined with a .800 slugging percentage. In addition to Vaughan's strong offensive start, UConn will need valiant performances from both pitchers freshman Lauren Duggan (Norwood, Mass.) and junior Kiki Saveriano (Lexington, Mass.) who is 1-3 on the season with a 4.28 ERA.
