Softball takes split on day two of UNCG Invitational

Saturday, February 25

Greensboro, NC

1:30 PM

University of Connecticut

5-5

University of Delaware

5-8

Delaware

Connecticut

Photo by: Jared Beltz

2/26/2023 12:29:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

GREENSBORO, NC – The UConn softball team lost their first game on Saturday to Delaware 6-4. The Huskies bounced back in game two against UNCG shutting out the host school 2-0.

Meghan O'Neil started in game one for the Huskies going five innings with three strikeouts. Delaney Nagy came in relief for O'Neil in the sixth inning but only faced two batters. Hope Jenkins relieved Nagy, finishing out the game in the circle for the Huskies with two strikeouts.

Delaware opened the scoring in the second inning with two runs. The Huskies responded in the third inning with two runs of their own to tie the game. Jana Sanden opened the scoring with a single to left field to score Aziah James. Lauren Benson followed Sanden with a sacrifice fly to left field to score Grace Jenkins.

Delaware retook the lead for good in the fourth inning with a run and two in the fifth to make it 5-2. UConn got a run back in the bottom half of the inning to trim the deficit to two. Haley Coupal hit a single up the middle to score pinch runner Makenzie Mason.

The Huskies didn't go down quietly putting the first two batters on base in the bottom of the seventh. Lexi Hastings hit a single up the middle to score Hope Jenkins making it 6-4 but UConn couldn't get the other two runners across.

Payton Kinney started in game two with a dominant performance in the circle for the Huskies. She finished with a complete game shutout, the first of her career only giving up one hit. She set a career high in strikeouts with 14 leading the Huskies to a win.

The game was a pitcher's duel through the first five innings as there was only one hit between the two teams.

UConn broke the deadlock in the fifth inning taking a 1-0 lead. Freshman Kaitlyn Kibling kick started the offense with her first career hit and the first hit of the game for the Huskies. After a Makenzie Mason sacrifice bunt to move Kibling to second and a single by Savannah Ring moving her to third, the veteran leader James hit into a fielder's choice to score Kibling.

The Huskies extended their lead in the sixth inning, 2-0. Once again, the leadoff hitter got on to kick start the offense, this time it was Rosie Garcia. After a sacrifice bunt by Hastings to move her to second and a ground out by Taylor Zatyk pushing her to third, Garcia scored on a wild pitch.

Kinney finished the game strong, striking out the side in the seventh to secure the complete game shutout.

UConn will close out the UNCG Invitational tomorrow at 10:00am against the Indiana Hoosiers.

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