University of Connecticut Athletics
Softball Closes Out Weekend With Sweep Of Villanova
3/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
UConn 8, Villanova 4 [], []
UConn 4, Villanova 3 [], []
VILLANOVA, Pa. (March 26, 2006) - The University of Connecticut women's softball team closed out the weekend with a two-game sweep at Villanova on Sunday afternoon. The Huskies, who are now 12-11 overall and 4-0 in the BIG EAST Conference, won by scores of 8-4 and 4-3.
In the first game, the Huskies picked up five runs in the top of the first inning to take the quick lead. Freshman Jillian Ortega (Aberdeen, N.J.) singled in sophomore Allie Gendron (Amherst, Mass.) while fellow freshman Danielle Del Ponte (Tewksbury, Mass.) crossed the plate after a single by sophomore Christine Keeton (Spokane, Wash.). Later in the inning, freshman Sarah Neuschwander (Chugiak, Alaska) doubled in junior Holly Calcagno (Cedar Grove, N.J.), Keeton and Ortega.
The Wildcats scored three runs in the bottom of the first to cut the UConn lead to just two runs. However, the Huskies battled back, scoring once more in the second on a double by Del Ponte, and then scored two more runs in the top of the seventh to close out the victory. Freshman Micah Truax (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) hit a two-run home run in the seventh for the Huskies. Villanova added one more run in the bottom of the seventh.
Freshman Rachael Crossin (Fairless Hills, Pa.) picked up the win for UConn. In six innings of work, she scattered four hits and stuck out four. Junior Krista Michalczyk (Salem, N.H.) started the game but gave up five hits and three runs in the first inning of work for the Huskies.
The second game remained scoreless until the top of the fourth inning when Del Ponte hit a two-run home run to give UConn the lead. That lead increased by one in the top of the sixth inning when Del Ponte hit her second home run of the game.
Villanova answered in the bottom of the sixth with one run and then picked up two more in the seventh inning to knot the score at three all and send the game into extra innings.
Ortega was the hero of the eighth inning for the Huskies, singling in junior Kristina Tolles (Southington, Conn.), who had come in to pinch run earlier in the half-inning, to give UConn the victory.
Senior Michelle Caouette (Wyantskill, N.Y.) picked up the win for UConn in the second game, scattering five hits in 6.1 innings of work. Sophomore Ashley Thody (Middletown, Conn.) and Crossin combined to give up just two hits in the remaining 1.2 innings.
The Huskies will be in action next on Tuesday, March 28 when they host Quinnipiac at the Connecticut Softball Stadium at 4:00 p.m.
