University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Earn Split With League-Leading Villanova
4/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
, - Game 1
, - Game 2
VILLANOVA, PA (April 18) – Mandy Schettini’s (Coxsackie, N.Y.) RBI single in the top of the sixth was enough to give the University of Connecticut softball team a win in game one of a doubleheader at league-leading Villanova on Sunday afternoon. Jessica Gurney (Williamstown, Mass.) went the distance in the circle, striking out 10 and walking none, while giving up just six hits in the shutout. The Wildcats went on to win game two 2-1 after a two RBI home run by Kristen Strait.
The split moves the Huskies to 18-18 on the season and 3-7 in the BIG EAST, while Villanova moves to 21-16 overall and 9-3 in conference play.
Neither team found much offensive power early in game one, with just three total hits being recorded in the first three innings. The Huskies loaded the bases on two hits and a Villanova error in the fourth inning, but all three runners were stranded at the end.
Suzy de Bary (Roxbury, Conn.) got things going in the top of the sixth with a leadoff double, and after a fly out, pinch runner Nikki Ribeiro (Norton, Mass.) advanced to third on a ground out. Schettini then stepped up to the plate and knocked out a base hit to bring home Ribeiro for the lone run of the game.
Gurney was impressive in the complete-game shutout, especially early on as she retired six batters in the first three innings. Gurney’s overall season record improved to 13-8 with the win.
One run was not enough in game two, as the Huskies scored first in the top of the fourth, but ultimately fell 2-1 to the Wildcats.
Back-to-back singles by Jen D’Angelo (Wyomissing, Pa.) and Schettini led off the fourth inning of game two for UConn. D’Angelo was put out on a fielder’s choice, but Holly Calcagno (Cedar Grove, N.J.) then stepped up and knocked out a double to bring home Schettini.
The lead stood for just one inning, as the Wildcats’ Strait homered in the fifth, also scoring Cassandra Koenig who had reached on a double. Gurney relieved Michelle Caouette (Wynantskill, N.Y.) in the circle just prior to Koenig’s double, and thus recorded the loss to drop her season record to 13-9. Kristen Haynes took the win for Villanova, striking out four batters in the effort.
UConn will return to action with a single game against Boston University on Tuesday, April 20 at 4:00 p.m. at the UConn Softball Field.
