UConn victorious in five against Memphis

Friday, April 5

Storrs, Conn.

1:00 pm

University of Connecticut

14-19, 3-4

University of Memphis

20-18, 2-5

Memphis

UConn

Photo by: Stephen Slade

4/5/2019 4:22:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Story by Steve Lewis

STORRS, Conn. – Junior infielder Kiwi McDaniel had three RBI and sophomore infielder Briana Marcelino added two hits and three runs on Friday, as the UConn softball team opened up its first home conference series of the season with an 11-3 victory over Memphis in five innings.

The Huskies (14-19, 3-4 American), who have now won three of their last four games in American Athletic Conference action, showed poise at the plate against the Tigers – drawing seven walks to aid their offensive production.

Six different UConn players had hits, including Marcelino, who continued her remarkable season with a 2-for-4 effort at the plate with a double and RBI. McDaniel chipped in RBI on a walk, single and groundout throughout the contest.

Sophomore pitcher Marybeth Olson picked up the win for the Huskies in the circle, allowing three runs on four hits in the complete-game effort. She had nine strikeouts – her second-highest total of the season – against just one walk.

"Marybeth was lights out and everyone hit today," said sophomore outfielder Reese Guevarra. "We scored in almost every inning. It's a great way to start the weekend, really giving us a good foundation."

UConn took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning when junior infielder Carli Cutler reached on an error – scoring freshman Aziah James from second base. The Huskies broke the game open in the third, scoring five runs on just two hits, as Memphis starter Mariah Nichols was pulled from the game.

Nichols picked up the loss for the Tigers, allowing three earned runs (six total) on two hits in 2.1 innings of work. She surrendered four walks –two of them producing RBI for McDaniel and redshirt sophomore Olivia Sappington. The Huskies led 6-0 after three frames.

Memphis struck back in the fourth, scoring three runs off Olson, including a two-run homer from Gracie Morton. However, the UConn hurler settled down by stranding a pair in the inning to keep the lead at 6-3.

McDaniel knocked in Marcelino in the fourth off Memphis reliever Bayleigh Wisher, extending the lead to 7-3, before the Huskies tacked on four runs in the fifth – accounting for the 11-3 game-shortened final due to a mercy rule. Marcelino ripped an RBI single in the fifth, while Sappington reached on an error that plated the game's final two runs.

UConn improves to 8-7 all-time against Memphis. The Huskies prepare for the final two games of the weekend series with the Tigers – Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at noon. Both games can be watched on Husky Vision and heard on WHUS.org.