University of Connecticut Athletics
UCONN SOFTBALL MAKES 11TH BIG EAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME APPEARANCE
5/11/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
UCONN SOFTBALL MAKES 11TH BIG EAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME APPEARANCE
VILLANOVA, Pa. (May 11) - The third-seeded University of Connecticut softball team defeated fourth-seeded Seton Hall, 3-1, Friday afternoon in game four of the 2001 BIG EAST Conference Championship Tournament to make its 11th championship game appearance in postseason league play.
After top-seeded Notre Dame made an early exit out of the tournament with a 1-0 upset from second-seeded Villanova in game three, the Huskies and Pirates knew getting to tomorrow's final would be important as the winner of the conference championship game receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Tournament field of 48.
Both teams, however, started slowly in the early innings, until a back-to-back rally in the third. Seton Hall's McKenzie Richards scored off an RBI single by teammate Marlena Kotynski to put the Pirates up 1-0.
Not to be outmatched, Connecticut produced a three-run inning to take over the lead. Senior Jessica Yanosy (Milford, Conn.) got on board with a leadoff single up the middle, while sophomore Nicole Dubovik (Coral Springs, Fla.) outran a sacrifice bunt to put two-on. Senior co- captain Mandy Simjian (Wallingford, Conn.) mirrored their stride by delivering a single that brought in Yanosy for the tying run on an outfield throwing error.
In the same inning, senior Abbie Link (Chalfont, Pa.) received a walk from Pirates' pitcher Misty Beaver to load the bases. Junior Lisa Girolamo (Ashby, Mass.), who went 3-for-3 for the day, hit an RBI single to right field to bring in Dubovik. Sophomore Katie Kestranek (Manlius, N.Y.) followed with a sacrifice fly which scored sophomore Elisa Brinkworth (Amherst, Mass.), who pinch ran for Simjian.
Sophomore ace Barb Cook (Conklin, N.Y.) went the distance pitching a complete game and unloading eight strikeouts. She improved her win-loss record to 17-10 and held Seton Hall in the sixth with a 1-2-3 inning courtesy of senior co- captain Sarah Sandford's (Carlsbad, N.M.) second diving catch of the game in centerfield.
In all, UConn had five sacrifice hits throughout the game, which were crucial in the 3-1 victory. Connecticut has been to the league tournament every year since 1990 and missed the championship game only once in 1999.
UConn (34-21) and Seton Hall (28-13) will face each other once again in a rematch tomorrow at noon. In game five, the Pirates beat the Wildcats, 5-2, to advance to the championship game. Prior to the tournament, both teams split the regular season series on May 6. Live stats and game results can be accessed via a link on www.villanova.com.
Connecticut 3, Seton Hall 1 Seton Hall 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 1 3 4 Connecticut 0 0 3 0 0 0 x - 3 9 2
SHU - Misty Beaver and Ryan Barry. UC - Barb Cook and Jessica Bigos. WP - Barb Cook (17-10). LP - Misty Beaver (15- 5). E - Jackson, Kirk 2, Beaver (SHU), Girolamo, Sandford (UC). LOB - SHU 5, UConn 10. SB - Kotynski (SHU). Time: 1:50, Attendance: N/A
2001 BIG EAST Softball Championship (May 10-12) Sullivan Field, Villanova, Pa.
Thursday, May 10 Game 1 No. 2 Villanova vs. No. 3 Connecticut 11 a.m. Game 2 No. 1 Notre Dame vs. No. 4 Seton Hall 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 11 Game 3 Villanova vs. Notre Dame 10 a.m. Game 4 Connecticut vs. Seton Hall Noon Game 5 Seton Hall vs. Villanova 2 p.m. Saturday, May 12 Game 6 Connecticut vs. Seton Hall Noon Game 7 Same teams as Game 6, if necessary 2 p.m.
