University of Connecticut Athletics
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UConn Set to Compete in BIG EAST Softball Championships
5/12/2021 10:07:00 PM | Softball
Championship Central | Live Stats | Live Stream
STORRS, Conn. – The UConn (20-18, 12-9 BIG EAST) softball team is set to compete this weekend in the 2021 BIG EAST Softball Championship. The Huskies won't have to travel for the tournament as the three-day event will be held at Burrill Family Field on the University of Connecticut campus.
In a rematch of this past weekend's series, the third-seeded Huskies will take on the second-seeded Villanova Wildcats Thursday at 3:00 p.m. in the second game of the first round of the four-team, double-elimination tournament. The winner of this matchup advances to Friday's second round to play the winner of Game 1 between DePaul/Butler, while the losers will meet at 5 p.m. on Thursday evening.
Coverage of Thursday's games can be found on the BIG EAST Digital Network on the BIG EAST Conference's YouTube Channel. John Fanta (play-by-play) and Adam Giardino (analyst) will be on the call.
UConn Notes…
- Jana Sanden was tabbed the 2021 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, becoming just the fourth Husky and first since the 1996 season to garner the conference honor. Reese Guevarra, along with Sanden, earned nods to the All-BIG EAST First Team while Devon Casazza was named to the conference's second team.
- UConn ranks 7th in the NCAA and first in the BIG EAST in stolen bases/game with an average of 2.26 per contest (83-of-98) overall on bag swipes. Individually, Aziah James leads the way with 18 thefts while Briana Marcelino and Reese Guevarra are tied for second with 16. Hollis Wivell is the fourth Husky to have double-digit stolen bases with a dozen. Additionally, the Huskies' 163 runs scored and 140 RBI rank third in the conference while their 31 homeruns are second to only Villanova.
- Freshman pitcher Payton Kinney (3.16 ERA) is second in the league in opposing batting average (.206) and innings pitched (115.1). She also ranks second with 123 strikeouts. The pitching trio of Kinney, Meghan O'Neil (3.32 ERA, 118.0 innings (2nd in BE)), and Marybeth Olson (2.75 ERA, 20.1 innings) have combined to limit opposing hitters to a .241 batting average, second in the conference.
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