University of Connecticut Athletics
Final Regular-Season Weekend at Tulsa
5/3/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
STORRS, Conn. - Final exams are nearly complete and the UConn softball team returns to on-field business this weekend when it takes on Tulsa in the final American Athletic Conference series of the regular season from Friday (May 4) through Sunday (May 6).
The Huskies (19-32, 4-14 American) will enter the AAC Tournament as the eight-seed next Thursday in Tampa, Fla., but before that, will take on the Golden Hurricane in a three-game set at the Collins Family Softball Complex.
Here is the complete weekend schedule:
Friday, May 4 - Tulsa - 6 p.m. ET - Live Stats | Video
Saturday, May 5 - Tulsa - 4 p.m. ET - Live Stats | Video
Sunday, May 6 - Tulsa - 1 p.m. ET - Live Stats | Video
Last Sunday, UConn celebrated Senior Day at Burrill Family Field by honoring Chelsea Eckert, Ryne Nakama and Emma Stanley for their contributions to the program over the past four seasons. The Huskies managed to go 1-2 against Houston in their final home weekend.
Junior pitcher Jill Stockley earned her second nod of the season to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll on Monday, after hurling a two-run, complete-game win against the Cougars on Saturday. She leads the pitching staff in six major categories, including ERA (2.56), wins (9), strikeouts (102) and a career-high in innings (150.1).
UConn is 3-2 in its last five games, dating back to the April 20-21 series at Memphis. Two players - sophomore Chloe Kerns (.350) and junior Kelli Bates (.303) - are hitting over .300 in conference play to lead the Huskies at the plate.
Tulsa leads the all-time series with UConn, 10-0, as the Huskies look to tally their first-ever win against the Golden Hurricane.
SCOUTING TULSA
The Golden Hurricane (28-22, 8-10 American) have lost each of its last two conference series to Houston (Apr. 20-22) and Memphis (Apr. 27-29) on the road - dropping two of three games to the Tigers most recently. Earlier this season, Tulsa knocked-off No. 23 Oklahoma State to score the program a trademark win.
Tulsa is currently tied for sixth place in the American with ECU, as it looks to defend its 2017 AAC title. Four players are hitting over .300, including Julia Hollingsworth at a team-best .387. Senior pitcher Emily Watson leads the AAC in strikeouts (239) and boasts a 1.80 ERA in 30 appearances.
DOUBLES FOR DAYS
Freshman infielder Briana Marcelino (Easton, Conn.) has accounted for 12 doubles this season, a team-high and tied for the most among all players in the American. The first-year player currently leads UConn in batting average (.286) and slugging percentage (.473), in addition to two-baggers.
ON THE HORIZON
After Tulsa this weekend, UConn prepares to compete in the AAC Tournament, which begins on Thursday, May 10 in Tampa, Fla. at the USF Softball Stadium. Since the American began in the 2013-14 academic year, the Huskies have competed in the single-elimination tournament on four occasions (0-4).
