University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Rhode Island
Huskies Blank Rams 3-0
4/7/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 7, 2010
STORRS, Conn. - A 2-for-3 effort, including the game-winning hit by Amy Vaughan led the University of Connecticut softball team past Rhode Island Wednesday on the Burrill Family Field at the Connecticut Softball Stadium.
Kiki Saveriano (Lexington, Mass.) earned the complete game shutout, her fourth shut out of the season, pitching all seven innings while allowing just four hits and striking out eight.
The Huskies improve to 13-18 on the season and 10-14 in non-conference play. Rhode Island drops to 9-19 on the year.
Connecticut jumped on the board early in the bottom of the first. Brittany Duclos (Mystic, Conn.) reached on a walk and was brought around thanks to consecutive singles by Justyne Roy (North Dighton, Mass.) and Amy Vaughn (Somerset, Mass.). After one inning of play the Huskies held an early 1-0 advantage.
Huskies starting pitcher Saveriano got some defensive help in the top of the fifth inning. For the first time all game Saveriano ran into some trouble and with two outs and a runner on a second, Brittany Julich sent a hard groundball up the middle for a single.
Huskies centerfielder Jennifer Ward (Waterford, Conn.) then made the play of the game as she came up throwing and was able to gun down Rams baserunner Jackie Kampmeier as Amanda Martin (Rowley, Mass.) applied the tag at home plate to keep the shutout in tact.
After holding the Huskies to one run on four hits through four innings, Amanda Sbei relieved Rams starter Alison Hartzell. The Huskies wasted no time welcoming the new pitcher into the game and used small ball to manufacture two runs in the frame.
Martin started things with a walk and a stolen base. Ward followed with a hard single up the middle and Duclos delivered on a suicide squeeze that brought home the runner from third. Amy DeLuca (Bordentown, N.J.) then followed with a sacrifice fly to left field and the Huskies held a 3-0 advantage at the end of five innings.
The Huskies return to action on Thursday, April 8 when they travel to Boston, Mass. where they will take on Boston University at 4 p.m.
