Huskies Wrap Opening Weekend with 7-3 Victory Over FGCU

Sunday, February 9

Fort Myers, Fla.

1:30 PM

University of Connecticut

3-2

Florida Gulf Coast University

4-1

UCONN

FGCU

2/9/2020 6:30:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The UConn softball team closed out opening weekend in dominating fashion as they earned a 7-3 victory over host-school Florida Gulf Coast Sunday afternoon. The Huskies improve to 3-2 on the season and earn their first win over FGCU in program history.

Olivia Sappington and Reese Guevarra notched 2 RBI's apiece to pace the UConn offense, with Briana Marcelino and Ashlee Dahman each adding one. Dahman was also 2-3 in her at-bats while Kiwi McDaniel went 2-4.

Junior Marybeth Olson racked up eight strikeouts in four innings of relief and picked up her second win of the season in the process.

UConn got off to a quick start with an explosive second inning. McDaniel advanced to first base on a bunt single, moving Barnett to second. On the ensuing play, Sappington doubled to left center allowing McDaniel and Barnett to come around for the first two runs of the game. Pinch runner Cali Jolley gave the visitors a three-run lead following Dahman's double to left center, and Dahman added one of her own to give UConn a 4-0 advantage heading into the bottom of the second.

The Huskies were once again put into prime scoring position after a sequence by James in the top of the fourth – the sophomore hit a bunt single, stole second base and then advanced to third on a passed ball. On her next at-bat, Marcelino doubled down the left field line scoring James.

Dahman and pinch runner Hollis Wivell would push the UConn lead to 7-1 in the sixth following Guevarra's single to left field.

FGCU pulled within 7-3 after a two-run homer, but that was as close as they would get. Olson struck out the Eagle batter to get UConn out of the inning, then sealed the win with a quick 1-2-3 in the final inning.