Huskies tame Wildcats in five

Wednesday, March 20

Daytona Beach, Fla

3:00 pm

University of Connecticut

9-13

Bethune-Cookman University

9-22

UConn

Bethune-Cookman

Photo by: Eric Espada/UCONN Athletics

3/20/2019 6:08:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—The UConn (9-13) softball team routed Bethune-Cookman (9-22) in a run-rule five inning midweek match up at Sunnyland Park on Wednesday afternoon.

QUICK HITS

The Huskies played an all-round game against the Wildcats, with tremendous offensive and defensive efficiency. Every starter tabbed at least one hit, while freshman Alexis Lemus stretched her hitting streak to three games. Junior pitcher Katie Koshes got the nod to start in the circle for UConn and was relieved by freshman Kylie Gavitt, who saw her first action of the 2019 campaign.

THE STORY

At the plate, UConn's efforts were spearheaded via doubles from Lemus and junior Devon Casazza. Lemus' smack into left center sent Briana Marcelino, who reached base on a single to right field and stole second, home to score the first run of the contest. A few batters later Casazza followed suit and sent her double to left field, which rounded Kiwi McDaniel.

Before Casazza's double, Reese Guevarra's at-bat propelled McDaniel to second and brought Lemus in. Before the top of the first end, UConn's lead had been stretched to six after senior Kelli Bates reached on an error by the shortstop, which allowed Casazza to score. All in all the Huskies scored six runs on seven hits, and left two on base.

Bethune-Cookman finally slowed the hitting onslaught from UConn but almost too late, in the top of the fifth. By then the Huskies had tacked on two more runs to their effort in the top of the third. Junior Carissa Brizzi's single gave speedy pinch hitter Aziah James all the time and room she needed to cross home plate. Several batters later freshman Ashley Esty singled to third base to advance Marcelino to third and round Bates. UConn's eight-run lead would hold through the final pair of innings.

On the other side of the diamond, Koshes pitched lights-out for the Huskies and picked up her second win of the season. She pitched three innings and only gave up one hit while delivering several strikeouts. Gavitt pitched the last two innings for a total of 19 pitches against seven different Wildcat batters.

UConn's 13 hits on the day are a new season high in addition to their five stolen bases.

The Huskies open American Athletic Conference play this weekend against the Knights of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla. in a three-day weekend series.