University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Wichita State
Huskies Fall to the Shockers in Home-Opener
3/29/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
STORRS, Conn. - The home opener for UConn softball started on a promising note on Thursday afternoon, before a seven-run sixth inning by Wichita State shifted the momentum in an 11-3 American Athletic Conference loss at the Burrill Family Field.
The Huskies (13-21, 0-4 American) received a clutch two-out RBI single by senior infielder Ryne Nakama in the third inning - her first runs batted in this season - while junior pitcher Jill Stockley (6-9) turned in 5.2 innings in the circle.
Five different players recorded hits for UConn, including redshirt freshman Olivia Sappington, who provided an RBI single to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead in the first inning off Wichita State starter Bailey Lange.
Stockley struck-out four and walked five in her team-leading 16th start of the season, allowing seven runs on five hits. She pitched four scoreless innings to start the game, stranding three runners in that stretch of play.
UConn wasted no time in striking first against the Shockers, the newest team to join the AAC. Junior Kelli Bates singled into left center in the first, advanced to second on a groundout and then scored on a single to right field by Sappington - her team-high 15th RBI.
With two outs in the third inning, and runners on second and third, Nakama came up with the clutch hit for UConn - smacking a single to left center and plating Bates and freshman Briana Marcelino. Earlier in the inning, Marcelino recorded her second double of the season with a liner down the right field line.
Ryne Nakama's 2-out single drives in Briana Marcelino and Kelli Bates to put the Huskies up 3-0! pic.twitter.com/ORIydndsaR
- UConn Softball (@UConnSoftball) March 29, 2018
After Nakama's hit, the Huskies led 3-0 with Stockley rolling in the circle. In the first four innings, she allowed just one hit while striking out four - using a good mix of pitches and hitting locations to keep the Shockers off balance.
In the fifth, Wichita evened the score after a sacrifice fly by Mackenzie Wright and a two-run homer by Bailee Nickerson. Tied 3-3 going into the sixth, Stockley recorded the first out before a two-run blast two batters later by Lange - making it 5-3 Shockers.
Stockley was pulled in the sixth after recording two outs, as freshman Marybeth Olson took over. Wichita State added a three-run homer by Wright, followed by a two-run shot from Laurie Derrico - making three long balls in the frame and putting the Huskies down 10-3.
Sophomore Katie Koshes relieved Olson for the final out of the sixth and the seventh, picking up three strikeouts in her brief outing.
Lange pitched five innings for the Shockers, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out seven. Bailey Klitzke provided two innings of relief for Lange, striking out three in a scoreless outing.
It is the first time in the last three seasons that the Huskies have dropped their true home-opening game, after posting wins against Bryant in 2016 and Boston College in 2017.
UConn and Wichita State play the second game of their series back at Burrill on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. Stay tuned to uconnhuskies.com and @UConnSoftball on Twitter for updates related to inclement weather.
