University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Top Visiting UMass 4-3 in Ninth-Inning Rally
4/21/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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STORRS, CT (April 21) - Junior Jen Ward (Gales Ferry, Conn.) drove in the winning run in extra innings for the second time this season, knocking out a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth to give the University of Connecticut softball team a 4-3 win over visiting UMass. Junior and reigning BIG EAST Co-Pitcher of the Week Jessica Gurney (Williamstown, Mass.) pitched a complete-game six-hitter, striking out nine batters and improving her season record to 14-9 in the circle.
The win improves UConn’s overall record to 20-18, while UMass drops to 22-12. The Huskies’ bats were on fire throughout the game, as they out-hit their opponent 18-6.
Ashleigh Campen (Rougemont, N.C.) started the game off strong for the Huskies as the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the first inning, sending her first pitched ball over the right field fence to give UConn a 1-0 lead. Two outs later, Maggie Arbogast (Ambler, Pa.) doubled to left field and was then brought home with a RBI single by Jen D’Angelo (Wyomissing, Pa.).
The Minutewomen answered with two runs of their own in the top of the second, on RBI singles from KC Budrewicz and Aisha Franke.
Each team tallied a lone run in the fourth inning. UMass scored in the top of the inning on a solo home run by leadoff hitter Pam Sulick, but the next three batters were retired by the Huskies. In the bottom of the inning, Mandy Schettini (Coxsackie, N.Y.) led off with a triple to right field, and came home on a Stephanie DiBiase (Hamilton, N.J.) RBI single.
The following four innings were an exercise in frustration for UConn, who recorded seven hits and left eight runners on base while failing to score a single run. Gurney held UMass to just one hit in the same four innings.
The top of the ninth saw the Minutewomen put one runner on base with a walk, but after a sacrifice bunt and a fly out, Gurney retired the final batter with a strikeout.
D’Angelo singled to begin the bottom of the ninth inning for UConn, and DiBiase singled to put runners on first and second. Freshman Holly Calcagno (Cedar Grove, N.J.) loaded the bases with a single up the middle, and Ward followed with her game-winning RBI to score D’Angelo.
Arbogast, D’Angelo and Ward all finished the game going 3-for-5 at the plate, and Calcagno was 2-for-4.
Jenna Busa took the loss for UMass after relieving Kelli Arnold in the sixth inning. Both pitchers struck out four UConn batters.
The Huskies will return to action on Saturday, April 24 when they host St. John’s in a BIG EAST doubleheader at the UConn Softball Field. The first game is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m.
