University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Downs Jacksonville 10-2 in Six Innings
2/29/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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GAINESVILLE, FL (Feb. 29) - After scoring seven runs in their first turn at bat, the University of Connecticut softball team went on to defeat Jacksonville 10-2 in six innings to record their first win of the season. UConn improves to 1-4 with the win, while Jacksonville drops to 7-11 with the loss.
Junior Jessica Gurney (Williamstown, Mass.) pitched the complete game to pick up the win for the Huskies, a win which marks the first of her career at UConn after seeing only limited action as a pitcher in her first two seasons.
The Dolphins scored the first run of the game in the top of the first, but UConn answered with seven runs on six hits in the bottom of the inning. Junior Stephanie DiBiase (Hamilton, N.J.), the leadoff hitter, started things off by taking first base on a walk. After junior Mandy Schettini (Coxsackie, N.Y.) singled to left field, senior Maggie Arbogast (Ambler, Pa.) blasted a double up the middle to bring DiBiase home.
UConn’s next batter, junior Jen D’Angelo (Wyomissing, Pa.) singled through the left side to score Schettini, and junior Ashleigh Campen (Rougemont, N.C.) later hit a two RBI single, bringing home Arbogast and D’Angelo. In DiBiase’s second at bat of the inning, she struck again with a three RBI double to bring the score to 7-1 in favor of the Huskies.
The Dolphins were able to score a second run in the top of the third on a RBI single by Michelle Diaz. UConn answered in the fourth with another strong at bat by Arbogast, who singled to bring home DiBiase and put the Huskies up 8-2.
UConn scored enough runs to run rule Jacksonville in the bottom of the sixth on a two RBI single by Schettini, which brought home DiBiase who reached second on a double, and freshman Jessica Quan (Stockton, Calif.) who reached on a walk. With the 10-2 advantage, the eight-run mercy rule ended the game.
DiBiase finished the game going 3-for-3 with three RBI and three runs, while Arbogast went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Schettini went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
The Huskies will return to action at the Florida State University Tournament, being held from March 5-7 in Tallahassee, Fla. UConn will open the tournament on Friday with games against St. John’s and Louisiana-Lafayette at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
