University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
24-24, 14-5
Creighton
26-22, 14-5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creighton | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 15 | 1 |
| UConn | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | X | 12 | 13 | 0 |
Huskies Edge Creighton in Series Opener
4/24/2026 10:59:00 PM | Softball
STORRS, Conn. – The UConn softball team defeated the Creighton Bluejays, 12-11 on Friday afternoon at Burrill Family Field. Head coach Laura Valentino picked up her 200th career win as the Huskies improve to 14-5 in BIG EAST play and 24-24 overall this season.
Graduate Jessica Walter made her 14th start of the season for the Huskies in the series opener. Walter went 3.2 innings giving up five runs on seven hits with a pair of strikeouts.
Creighton scored the game's first run in the top of the 1st inning, giving the Bluejays an early 1-0 lead.
UConn responded in the bottom of the 1st inning, scoring four runs on four hits. Cat Petteys gave the Huskies the lead with a double to left center field, scoring Kaitlyn Kibling and Savannah Ring, making it 2-1. Two batters later, Kaitlyn Breslin knocked in Petteys with a single to center field, pushing the UConn lead to 3-1. Emma Willers followed Breslin with another single to center field, scoring Haley Coupal to extend the Huskies lead to 4-1.
Creighton trimmed into the UConn lead in the top of the 2nd inning with a run to make it 4-2.
UConn's offense punched back in the bottom of the 2nd inning, scoring two runs on a pair of hits. Petteys drove in her third RBI of the game with another double, this one to right center field, scoring Ring all the way from first base. Later in the inning, Willers brought Petteys home with a single to center field, expanding the UConn lead to 6-2.
Creighton plated a pair of runs in the top of the 3rd inning, bringing the Bluejays to within two runs at 6-4.
The Huskies once again had an answer for Creighton, scoring two runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning to make it a four-run lead at 8-4. Ring collected her third hit of the game with a single to right field, scoring Bella Cruz from second base. Petteys followed Ring with her third consecutive double of the game, a gapper to right center field, scoring Kibling from third base. This is Pettey's second game this season with four runs batted in.
Creighton cut into UConn's lead in the top of the 4th inning with a pair of runs to make it 8-6.
Freshman Caprice Bohmer came on in relief for Walter during the 4th inning, making her 32nd appearance of the season. Bohmer went 1.2 innings, giving up three runs on four hits with a strikeout.
Creighton knotted the score at 8-8 in the top of the 5th inning.
Sophomore Amber Bretton came on in relief for Bohmer during the 5th inning, making her 17th appearance this season. Bretton went 1.2 innings giving up three runs on four hits, adding a strikeout, and earning her third win of the season.
UConn took the lead for good in the bottom of the 5th inning, loading the bases for Coupal who delivered a two-out bases clearing double to right center field, plating all three runs to put the Huskies back on top at 11-8.
Creighton fought back once more to make it a one-run game in the top of the 6th inning, 11-10.
Cruz plated a key insurance run for the Huskies in the bottom of the 6th inning, giving UConn a 12-10 lead.
Creighton did not go quietly in the top of the 7th inning, scoring a run to make it 12-11, and put the potential tying run in scoring position. Walter came on to get the final two outs for the Huskies, earning her ninth save of the season, tying the program record for saves in a season.
News and Notes
- Head coach Laura Valentino earned her 200th career win in her 7th season leading the program.
- Jessica Walter tied the single season saves record with her ninth save of the season.
- Cat Petteys collected her fifth three-hit game this season, recording her second four-RBI game of the year, giving her 12 multi-RBI games. Petteys has recorded a hit in six consecutive games. Her three doubles are a career game high and a team game high this season.
- Savannah Ring recorded her fifth three-hit game of the season, giving her 15 multi-hit games on the year.
- Kaitlyn Kibling has reached base safely in 16 straight games.
- Haley Coupal recorded her seventh multi-RBI game this season. She has reached base safely in seven consecutive games.
- Kaitlyn Breslin has reached base safely in ten straight games.
- Emma Willers recorded her fifth multi-hit and eighth multi-RBI game in her rookie season.
- Bella Cruz recorded her third multi-hit game this season.
- UConn's 11 runs were the most they have scored in a game this season without recording a home run.
- UConn's defense did not commit an error for the 21st time this season.
Up Next
Game two between UConn and Creighton is set for Saturday, April 25 at 4:00pm at Burrill Family Field. TICKETS
Follow our social media pages for updates.
X – UConnSoftball
Instagram – UConnSoftball
Facebook – UConn Softball
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bretton, Amber (3-0)
L: Landrie Harris (4-4)
S: Walter, Jessica (9)
Batting:
2B: Zoey Greenwood 1 ; Avery Barnard 1 ; Keegan Mayhue 1 ; Erika Perez 1 ; Ella Dalton 1
RBI: Zoey Greenwood 2 ; Avery Barnard 1 ; Kaelan Schultz 1 ; Keegan Mayhue 3 ; Erika Perez 1 ; Ella Dalton 2 ; Ashten Pierson 1
SH: Kaelan Schultz 1
SF: Avery Barnard 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Zoey Greenwood 1 ; Lily West 1 ; Kaelan Schultz 1 ; Tara Vandewater 2 ; Keegan Mayhue 1 ; Emma Bailey 1 ; Chiqui Vazquez 1 ; Ella Dalton 2 ; Ashten Pierson 1
SB: Zoey Greenwood 1 ; Ella Dalton 1 ; Ashten Pierson 2
HBP: Ella Dalton 1
Batting:
2B: Petteys, Cat 3 ; Coupal, Haley 1
RBI: Ring, Savannah 1 ; Petteys, Cat 4 ; Coupal, Haley 3 ; Breslin, Kaitlyn 1 ; Willers, Emma 2 ; Cruz, Bella 1
SH: Kibling , Kaitlyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kibling , Kaitlyn 2 ; Ring, Savannah 2 ; Petteys, Cat 3 ; Coupal, Haley 1 ; De Meo, Caylee 1 ; Lundquist, Isabella 1 ; Cruz, Bella 2
