University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Sweep Rutgers in BIG EAST Opener
4/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
STORRS, CT (April 6) – The University of Connecticut softball team started the BIG EAST season with a pair of wins over Rutgers University, shutting out the Scarlet Knights, 2-0 in game one and beating them 10-2 in less than six full innings in game two. The Huskies improve to 13-13-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference as Rutgers falls to 15-12, 1-5 in BIG EAST play.
The Huskies started out the day slow and steady, scoring one run in the fifth in game one and another the following inning, while allowing the Scarlet Knights only three hits. UConn’s Ashleigh Campen (Rougemont, NC) reached first on a dropped third strike to start off the inning and later scored on Elisa Brinkworth’s (Amherst, NY) infield single to third base. Kim Castner (Forked River, NJ) took control of the sixth inning, hitting a double to left field to start a mini-rally. Jennifer Ward (Gales Ferry, CT) pinch ran for Castner and advanced to third on Campen’s bunt single. Ward scored on Mandy Schettini’s (Coxsackie, NY) single to second base.
Connecticut totaled eight hits in the first game. Barb Cook (Conklin, NY) earned the win, striking out eight in the process. Andria Koehler suffered the loss, allowing eight hits but only one earned run.
UConn came out a lot faster in game two, putting two runs on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Cook started things off with a triple to left center. Campen followed with a single to right field for the RBI and scored run two on Brinkworth’s RBI single to center field.
The Huskies put three more on the board before Rutgers broke through the scoring column, putting two runs of their own on the board in the top of the fifth. The Scarlet Knights took advantage of two UConn errors to score Megan Antonucci, who stole home and Jennifer Jacoby, who crossed the plate on a passed ball.
Connecticut brought things to a close in the sixth inning, scoring five runs on three hits and three errors. Cook had another hit, singling to left field. Brinkworth added her fourth hit of the day to finish four-for-seven with three RBI.
Claire Hesson (Kennebunkport, ME) recorded the win, striking out eight and allowing one hit in just under five innings. Brielle Cosentino took the loss, allowing four hits and three runs.
The Huskies return to action on Tuesday, April 8 when they travel to the University of Rhode Island for one game beginning at 3:30 p.m.
