University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Providence
Crossin No-Hitter Highlights Senior Day
5/2/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 2, 2009
STORRS, Conn. - In game one of the Saturday doubleheader, senior Rachael Crossin (Fairless Hills, Pa.) threw her first career no-hitter and the first UConn no-hitter since March 20, 2003, shutting out Providence 4-0 to secure the Huskies' spot in the BIG EAST tournament.
UConn fell in game two, 10-4, but it wouldn't matter as the Huskies' reached their third-straight BIG EAST Tournament finishing the season with a 29-21 record, 11-12 BIG EAST. With the split, Providence finished out their year 17-34, 9-14 BIG EAST.
The Huskies scored all of their runs in game one with two outs on the board improving their two-out RBI total to 73. UConn threatened in the first two innings of game one but were unable to get anything across stranding three after two innings.
But in the bottom of the third inning, a double by senior Danielle Del Ponte (Tewksbury, Mass.) started things off for the Huskies. Freshman Ali Adelman (San Diego, Calif.) came in to pinch run for her and crossed the plate one batter later when her classmate Amy DeLuca (Bordentown, N.J.) sent a laser shot up the middle to drive in her 26th RBI of the season and the first run of the game.
One inning later, senior Meghan Tierney (Salem, Conn.) started things up with two outs after getting hit by a pitch. She stole the 17th base of her career moving her into scoring position and 11th all-time on the UConn stolen base list. She was brought in one batter later after a bloop hit to centerfield by sophomore Julianne Towers (Goodlettsville, Tenn.).
Even with the two run lead, the seniors on the squad were not satisfied and continued to come up big for the Huskies in their final home game of their career. In the bottom of the sixth, Jillian Ortega (Aberdeen, N.J.) hit the 19th homer of her career (fifth all-time) over the left field fence. One batter later, Micah Truax (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) eked out a homer, also over the left field fence, adding to her outstanding career total of 34 home runs to give UConn a four-run lead and the game one victory.
In game two, however, it was Providence who's bats were on fire. Though they couldn't get a hit in the first game, the first batter of the second game Michelle Huber, started things off with a single and advanced to third on an error. She would eventually come home and after loading the bases, Justine Stratton blasted a home run to give the Friars a 5-0 lead after one. They added to their lead in the third and fourth amassing 10 total runs.
UConn started a comeback in the bottom of the fourth inning scoring three runs and disallowing the game to end early via the mercy rule cutting the Friar lead to six. But that is where the score would remain as Providence won their final game of the season.
UConn will be back in action this Thursday, May 7 at the BIG EAST Tournament. It is not certain who the Huskies would face in the first round, however it would most likely be DePaul or Notre Dame.
-UCONN-
