University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Georgetown University
Huskies Commence 2020 Season at FGCU Kickoff Classic
2/6/2020 5:17:00 PM | Softball
STORRS, Conn. – The UConn softball team will open up the 2020 campaign in the Sunshine state this weekend, as the Huskies prepare to compete in the FGCU Kickoff Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. The tournament will run the length of the weekend as the Huskies are set to play five games over the course of three days. UConn will face Georgetown, LIU, Delaware, Boston College and host-school Florida Gulf Coast.
The Huskies play a pair of games both Friday and Saturday before closing out the tournament with a single game against FGCU.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE / GAME INFORMATION:
Friday:
9:00 a.m. | UConn vs. Georgetown – Live Stats
11:15 a.m. | UConn vs. LIU – Live Stats
Saturday:
9:00 a.m. | UConn vs. Delaware – Live Stats
11:15 a.m. | UConn vs. Boston College – Live Stats
Sunday:
1:30 p.m. | UConn at FGCU – Live Stats / Watch
HUSKY BITES:
- UConn is led by first-year head Coach Laura Valentino, who took over the helm in July. Valentino was most recently an assistant coach at Duke, which initiated its softball program prior to the 2018 season.
- The Huskies are looking to build off of last season – it was their best AAC showing at eight conference wins and also their best start to a season in over a decade.
- The team returns 17 players from 2019, including All-Conference selections Briana Marcelino, Olivia Sappington, Carli Cutler and Reese Guevarra. The quartet of freshman joining the program includes Emily Sappington, Meghan O'Neil, Cali Jolley and Mackenzie Fitzpatrick.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS:
- Georgetown – The Hoyas enter the year after finishing the 2019 season 14-35 overall and 6-13 in conference play.
- LIU – Coming off a 36-18 overall record (14-2 in conference play) and its 12th NEC regular season crown in 2019, LIU was elected as the preseason conference team to beat after notching seven first place votes. The team returns a 10 of 11 starters, including Elena Valenzuela, Alina Castillo, Camryn Lyman, Samantha Garcia and Patricia Griffin. Head coach Roy Kortmann enters the 2020 season with a 688-613-2 mark, needing just 12 victories to hit the 700-win marker.
- Delaware – Despite losing Anna Steinmetz, the program leader in career home runs to graduation, the Blue Hens still return seven of their top eight hitters from a season ago. Shortstop Karolina Flores returns to pace Delaware after batting .327 and tallying with 22 RBI in 2019 while Hanna Garber, a second team All-CAA and conference All-Rookie selection, hit .311 and ranked second in the league with 27 steals.
- FGCU – Picked to finish third in the Preseason All-ASUN Poll, FGCU had two players selected to the league's preseason team. The Eagles wrapped up the 2019 season going 29-22 overall and 13-7 in conference play while earning a No. 3 seed in the ASUN Softball Tournament.
- Boston College – The Eagles went 18-35 a season ago, including 4-20 in ACC play. Two-time Second-Team All-ACC selection Emme Martinez returns after hitting .321 with 50 hits and 24 RBI in 2019. Amy Kvilhaug is in her first season as head coach at Boston College.
