University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
34-14
Seton Hall University
41-16
Softball knocked out of BIG EAST Tournament
5/13/2023 10:28:00 AM | Softball
STORRS, Conn. – The No. 1 seed UConn Huskies fell just short at the BIG EAST Tournament. The Huskies had two opportunities to make it to Championship Saturday but fell in back to back games, ending UConn's hopes of a BIG EAST Tournament title. UConn lost in the winners bracket semi-final on Friday afternoon to Seton Hall, 6-4 putting them in an elimination game against Villanova on Friday evening. The Huskies saw a late comeback come up just short, falling 4-3.
Game 1: UConn's pitching was a staff effort against Seton Hall as three pitchers registered over an inning pitched. Payton Kinney started in the circle going 2.1 innings with three strikeouts. Hope Jenkins relieved Kinney in the third inning, also going 2.1 innings, and adding two strikeouts. Meghan O'Neil came in for Jenkins in the fifth inning, finishing out the game in the circle and keeping the game within striking distance for the Huskies.
This game was back and forth early on, with three lead changes in the first three innings. Makenzie Mason opened the scoring in the second inning, with a double to left center, scoring Rosie Garcia from second base.
Seton Hall would tie the game in the bottom half of the second, but UConn responded with a run in the third inning to re-take the lead. Grace Jenkins hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Lexi Hastings, and making it 2-1 Huskies.
The Pirates shifted the momentum in their favor with a grand slam by Shelby Smith in the bottom of the third inning, making it 5-2.
The Huskies scratched their way back into the game scoring two runs in the fifth inning, pulling them to within a run. Grace Jenkins once again came up big for the Huskies with a single, scoring Haley Coupal. Jana Sanden hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Hastings.
UConn continued to threaten offensively but ultimately could not get the tying run across.
Game 2: The Huskies once again found themselves in an elimination game against the Villanova Wildcats for the third consecutive year. Hope Jenkins started in the circle for the Huskies going 2.1 innings, with a strikeout.
Villanova jumped out in front early, scoring two runs in the first and third innings, putting them in the driver's seat at 4-0.
Payton Kinney came on in relief for Jenkins in the third inning, and did a great job of limiting the damage and keeping the game within striking distance for the Huskies. Kinney finished out the game in the circle, striking out seven Wildcat hitters, only surrendering one hit.
The Huskies would fight their way back into the game with their season on the line, scoring three runs in the sixth inning to make it a one run ball game. The Huskies loaded the bases for Garcia who delivered a two run single, scoring Jenkins and Aziah James. Taylor Zatyk followed Garcia with a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Jana Sanden, trimming the deficit to 4-3.
UConn threatened again in the seventh, putting the tying run on base, but the Huskies couldn't bring the runner home.
UConn finishes their season at 34-15, reaching 30 wins for the second consecutive season. This is the first time UConn has had consecutive 30 win seasons since the 2000 and 2001 seasons.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: SMITH, Shelby (16-6)
L: Kinney, Payton (11-6)
S: CARR, Kelsey (2)
Batting:
2B: Garcia, Rosie 1 ; Mason, Makenzie 1
RBI: Jenkins , Grace 2 ; Sanden, Jana 1 ; Mason, Makenzie 1
SH: James, Aziah 1
SF: Jenkins , Grace 1 ; Sanden, Jana 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hastings, Lexi 2 ; Garcia, Rosie 1 ; Coupal, Haley 1
SB: Hastings, Lexi 1
Batting:
2B: WINGO, Abby 1 ; ALEXANDER, Hannah 1
HR: SMITH, Shelby 1
RBI: SMITH, Shelby 4 ; GILBERT, Olivia 1 ; ALEXANDER, Hannah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: HILL, Taylor 1 ; CARR, Kelsey 1 ; SMITH, Shelby 1 ; ARRUDA, Miranda 1 ; WINGO, Abby 1 ; COLONNETTA, Ashly 1
HBP: WINGO, Abby 1
