University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Minnesota
Huskies Drop Season Opener 6-0 To Minnesota
2/26/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 26, 2010
FT. MYERS, Fla. - A three-run second inning propelled Minnesota to a 6-0 victory over the University of Connecticut softball team, Friday, in the Huskies' season opener at the Florida Gulf Coast Tournament.
Minnesota pinch hitter Lacey Middlebrooks came up big for the Gophers in the second inning with two outs by doubling to left centerfield to get her team on the board early. Malisa Barnes added another double, this time down the leftfield line bringing in two Gophers to give Minnesota an early 3-0 lead, one that they would continue to add to as the game progressed.
Senior Tricia Sullivan (New Bedford, Mass.) pitched four complete innings for the Huskies giving up six hits, and four earned runs walking two and striking out two while sophomore Ali Adelman (San Diego, Calif.) came in relief of Sullivan finishing out the final two innings, allowing one hit and striking out three.
With the loss, the Huskies drop to 0-1 on the season while Minnesota improves to 6-7 on the year.
The Huskies started things off well as the leadoff batter junior Julianne Towers (Goodlettsville, Tenn.) reached second via an error on the leftfielder Heidi Carls but was picked off at third while trying to advance on a fielder's choice by freshman Brittany Duclos (Mystic, Conn.) ending the threat.
After Minnesota got a few on the board, Towers threatened again after singling up the middle with two outs on the board. She advanced to second as Duclos was hit by a pitch but the Huskies weren't able to move anyone across the plate as Kim Silva (Cheshire, Conn.) grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning.
The Huskis were unable to put anything together on the day due in part to the pitching of Middlebrooks who threw a two-hitter on the day striking out five Huskies.
The Huskies are back in action later Friday against host team Florida Gulf Coast University at 6:00 p.m.
