UConn Sweeps Day 2 of The Spring Games with Wins over Stetson, Central Michigan

Saturday, February 15

Clermont, Fla.

11:00 AM

University of Connecticut

6-2

Stetson University

4-4

Stetson

UConn

Photo by: Stephen Slade

UConn Sweeps Day 2 of The Spring Games with Wins over Stetson, Central Michigan

2/15/2020 5:47:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CLERMONT, Fla. –The UConn softball team improved to 7-2 on the year after going 2-0 in the second day of The Spring Games. The Huskies posted wins over Stetson (5-4) and Central Michigan (9-3) to push their win streak to six. Additionally, the Huskies are off to their best start to a season since 2007, when the Huskies began the season 9-1.

UConn wraps up The Spring Games tomorrow afternoon against Purdue. First pitch is set for 12:30.

Game 1:

The Huskies won in thrilling walk-off fashion to open the morning, knocking off Stetson 5-4 in extra innings! Carli Cutler paced the UConn offense hitting 2-3 with a run, Samantha Barnett closely behind after going 2-4 and scoring a run. Kiwi McDaniel went 1-4 with two RBI's with Aziah James and Ashley Esty notching runs of their own. Meghan O'Neil moved to 4-0 on the season.

Barnett got UConn started with a double to center field. Shortly after, Olson knocked a double bagger into left center, scoring Barnett to put the Huskies ahead 1-0.

Stetson tied the game on a homerun in the fourth to tie the game. After both teams went three-and out over the next few innings, UConn and Stetson headed into extra innings.

The Hatters put two runs on the board at the top of the eighth to take a 3-1 lead. The Huskies, facing a bit of adversity, persevered and responded to the challenge with flying colors.

Esty subbed into pinch run for McDaniel, advancing to third after Cutler singled through the left side. With the defense lacking, Cutler stole third and Esty stole home to pull UConn within one. On the ensuing play, Hollis Wivell singled to right center and Cutler came around to tie the game 3-3.

Stetson regained a one-run lead at the top of the inning and appeared to be in good spirits - Their confidence was short lived, however. The Huskies would have the last laugh, delivering the decisive blow in the bottom of the ninth.

With James on third, Marcelino on second after the quick theft and Olson on first after being walked, McDaniel stepped up to the plate and blasted a double to right center to score Marcelino and James, delivering the Huskies a 5-4 victory.

Game 2:

The Huskies wrapped up Day 2 of The Spring Games with a resounding 9-3 win over the Central Michigan Chippewas in their second game of the day.

Seniors Olivia Sappington and Carli Cutler led the UConn offensive attack, combining for three runs and four RBI's. Sappington went 2-3 and tallied two runs and three RBI's, while Cutler was 3-4 with one run and one RBI. Aziah James continued her stellar play going 4-5 and scoring two runs, Samantha Barnett (1-3) notched a run and an RBI, Devon Casazza went 2-2 and added a pair of RBI's and Mackenzie Fitzpatrick (1-2) chipped in one of her own. Briana Marcelino (2) and Ashlee Dahman (1) were the other run scorers for the Huskies. Senior Katie Koshes earned her first win of the season after tallying four shutouts through seven innings of work.

UConn got off the its red-hot start thanks to an explosive five-run first inning. James started things off with a single to third base, then stole second. Barnett then doubled to center field, scoring James. A little later Cutler singled up the middle, advancing Sappington and scoring Barnett to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead. After Sappington increased the lead to three, Casazza helped put two more UConn runs on the board. The senior knocked a single to right field that advanced Wivell to third while bringing Dahman and Cutler in.

Sappington extended the Huskies lead on the second play of the second inning. The redshirt junior stepped up to the plate and delivered a bomb into left field. Marcelino also scored, giving UConn a 7-0 lead.

In the fifth, James opened up with a single to left center then stole second base once again. Pinch hitter Fitzpatrick doubled to left field, bring James in for her second of the afternoon.

Marcelino added the final nail in the coffin at the top of the seventh. After being walked, the junior stole second before notching her second run of the day off Sappington's single through the right side.