University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Drops Two at Cox Communications Classic
2/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
, - UConn vs. Gardner-Webb
, - UConn at Florida
GAINESVILLE, FL (Feb. 28) - The University of Connecticut softball team continued to struggle at the Cox Communications Classic, suffering two more losses on the second day of play. The Huskies were narrowly defeated by Gardner-Webb in 11 innings by a score of 3-2, and UConn lost to #23 Florida 7-0 in their second game of the day.
Against Gardner-Webb, each team scored only once in the first 10 innings of play. The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when their runner beat the throw at home plate. UConn answered in the bottom of the fourth when junior Ashleigh Campen (Rougemont, N.C.) hit an RBI triple to center field.
The Huskies gave themselves chances to take the lead, out-hitting Gardner-Webb 14-5 for the game. UConn loaded the bases in the sixth inning on two hits, but couldn’t bring a runner home. Defensively, UConn pitcher Michelle Caouette (Wynantskill, N.Y.) was strong on the mound with 14 strikeouts for the game.
Each team was able to place a runner on second beginning in the ninth inning as part of the tiebreaker rule, but still the game stayed even at 1-1 for two full innings. In the top of the 11th, Gardner-Webb’s Lani Shaffer hit an RBI single, and a UConn error allowed the Bulldogs to score another run. The Huskies were nearly able to answer in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single by junior Stephanie DiBiase (Hamilton, N.J.), but failed to score the tying run.
The Huskies suffered their second defeat of the afternoon to #23 Florida, who extended its record to 15-2 on the season with a 7-0 shut out of UConn. Four players had multiple hits as Florida tallied 12 hits, while the Huskies recorded just two.
Lauren Roussell got the Gators started in the bottom of the third with a solo home run just inside the left field foul pole to put Florida up 1-0. Lindsey Cameron started a two-out Gator rally in the same inning with a line drive up the middle. She scored from first on a Melissa Zick base hit, and Zick scored on Lacy Howard’s two-base shot through the left side. Howard advanced to third on UConn’s throw home to try to throw out Zick, and Lindsay Norfleet’s hit brought home Howard. Michelle Diaz and Jenilee Garner both walked to load the bases, but the Huskies made the final out to leave three runners on base.
The Gators scored their fifth run in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single by Howard, and two more runs in the bottom of the fifth with a two RBI double by Cameron.
Stacey Stevens earned the win for the Gators, improving her record to 5-0 on the season. She struck out 12 Husky batters and only gave up two hits. Junior Jessica Gurney (Williamstown, Mass.) took the loss for UConn, and split the innings with freshman pitcher Krista Michalczyk (Salem, N.H.) who relieved Gurney in the fourth inning.
The Huskies will play their final game of the tournament on Sunday, February 29 at 10:00 a.m. against Jacksonville.
