University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
30-25
Butler
25-20
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UConn | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 10 | 0 |
| Butler | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Huskies Power Past Butler, Punch Ticket to BIG EAST Championship Game
5/8/2026 8:49:00 PM | Softball
CHICAGO, Ill. – The No. 2 seed UConn softball team defeated the No. 4 seed Butler Bulldogs in the BIG EAST semifinal, 12-1 in a six-inning run-rule on Friday afternoon at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex. The Huskies advance to the BIG EAST Championship game for the second consecutive season and fourth time in the last five years.
Graduate Jessica Walter made her second consecutive start at the BIG EAST Tournament, marking her 17th start of the season.
Butler threatened early, loading the bases in the bottom of the 1st inning, but Walter managed to escape the jam, keeping the game scoreless.
Freshman Caprice Bohmer came on in relief for Walter in the 2nd inning, making her 35th appearance of the season for the Huskies. Bohmer was sensational in the circle, tossing 4.0 scoreless innings, only giving up a pair of hits with six strikeouts. She earned her team-leading 13th win of the season.
After a scoreless first three innings, UConn broke through first, scoring five runs in the top of the 4th inning, putting the Huskies in the driver's seat with a 5-0 lead. The middle of the order loaded the bases for the bottom who delivered in a big way. Ava Calciano scored the game's first run with a hit by pitch, forcing Kaitlyn Breslin home from third base. The next batter, Caylee De Meo brought in two runs with a single to center field, scoring Emma Willers and Kaitlyn Kibling, pushing the lead to 3-0. UConn's nine hitter Heidi Barber kept the rally going, dropping a perfectly executed bunt to score Calciano from third base on the bunt squeeze. Savannah Ring capped off the Huskies big inning with a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring De Meo from third base.
Bohmer preserved the lead for UConn in the circle, retiring eight straight Bulldog hitters from the 3rd inning through the 5th.
In the top of the 5th inning, Emma Willers broke the game open with her sixth home run of the season, a towering two-run shot to right field, ballooning the Huskies lead to 7-0.
Willers went deep again in her next plate appearance in the 6th inning, hitting a grand slam to give UConn a commanding 11-0 lead. This marks Willers second multi-homer game in her rookie season.
Calciano plated the Huskies final run of the game later in the 6th inning with a double to left center field, scoring Kiblingall the way from first base, pushing UConn's lead to 12-0.
Sophomore Amber Bretton came on in relief for Bohmer in the 6th inning, making her 21st appearance this season. Bretton closed out the win, securing the final three outs in the circle.
Butler scored their lone run of the game in the bottom of the 6th inning, making it a 12-1 final scoreline.
News and Notes
- UConn advances to the BIG EAST Championship game for the second consecutive season and fourth time in the last five years under head coach Laura Valentino.
- With today's victory, the Huskies reached the 30-win mark for the fifth consecutive season (2022-2026).
- Emma Willers went 4-4 and drove in a career high six RBI with her second multi-homer game in her rookie season. Her three runs scored ties a BIG EAST Tournament single game record. She was a triple shy of the cycle.
- Kaitlyn Kibling extended her on base streak to 23 straight games, working two walks to break the current career program record for walks (89, Reese Guevarra).
- Kaitlyn Breslin recorded her 14th multi-hit game this season.
- Ava Calciano has recorded back-to-back multi-RBI games at the BIG EAST Tournament, giving her eight this season. She has reached base safely in nine consecutive games.
- Caylee De Meo has RBIs in back-to-back games at the BIG EAST Tournament, recording her fourth multi-RBI game this season.
- Haley Coupal has reached base safely in 14 straight games.
- Cat Petteys extended her on base streak to 13 straight games.
- UConn's offense has posted double digit hits in four of their last five games.
Up Next
UConn will play for a BIG EAST Championship on Saturday, May 9 at 2:00pm EST. The Huskies will take on Creighton at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bohmer, Caprice (13-8)
L: Rylyn Dyer (4-5)
Batting:
2B: Willers, Emma 1 ; Calciano, Ava 1
HR: Willers, Emma 2
RBI: Ring, Savannah 1 ; Willers, Emma 6 ; Calciano, Ava 2 ; De Meo, Caylee 2 ; Barber, Heidi 1
SH: Kibling , Kaitlyn 1
SF: Ring, Savannah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ring, Savannah 1 ; Coupal, Haley 1 ; Breslin, Kaitlyn 2 ; Willers, Emma 3 ; Kibling , Kaitlyn 2 ; Calciano, Ava 1 ; De Meo, Caylee 1 ; Barber, Heidi 1
SB: Petteys, Cat 1
HBP: Calciano, Ava 1
Batting:
RBI: Emily Todor 1
SF: Emily Todor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hailey Conger 1
SB: Cate Lehner 1
HBP: Makena Alexander 1
