Softball walks off Butler in series opener

Friday, April 14

Storrs, Conn.

6:00 PM

University of Connecticut

26-11, 0

Butler University

15-25, 0

Butler

UConn

Photo by: Colby Rush

4/14/2023 11:24:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

STORRS, Conn. - The UConn softball (26-11) team edged out the Butler Bulldogs, 2-1 the series opener on Friday night in front of a sellout crowd. Freshman, Grace Jenkins delivered her second walk-off hit of the season, to lift the Huskies over Butler.

Hope Jenkins put in another dominant performance in the circle for the Huskies. She went 6.1 innings, notching six strikeouts, keeping the Bulldogs scoreless through the first five innings. Her only blemish came in the sixth inning, giving up a solo home run off the bat of Paige Dorsett giving Butler the first lead of the game.

UConn responded right away in the bottom of the sixth with a run to tie the game at one. Taylor Zatyk came up with the big hit, allowing Rosie Garcia to score from third base.

Meghan O'Neil came up big for the Huskies in relief. She entered for Jenkins in the top of the seventh in a big jam, bases loaded with only one out. O'Neil was able to strikeout back to back batters, getting UConn out of the inning unscathed. The senior pitcher has been exceptional in high leverage situations for the Huskies, as O'Neil earns her fifth win of the season.

UConn carried that momentum into the bottom of the seventh as Lexi Hastings led off the inning with a single, her third hit of the night, putting the winning run on base. An Aziah James groundout would allow Hastings to move into scoring position, setting the scene for the Huskies third walk-off win of the season. Grace Jenkins drove in her team leading 30^th run of the season, scoring Hastings, and sending the sellout crowd into pandemonium.

The Huskies will look to take the series win tomorrow at 2:00pm in Storrs. Tickets are available HERE.

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