University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Notre Dame
Huskies End Season Losing Heartbreaker To Notre Dame, 14-11
5/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 8, 2011
STORRS, Conn. - The UConn softball program celebrated senior day but had the festivities slowed by a late Notre Dame rally as UConn fell to the Irish, 14-11, on the final game of the season. Notre Dame scored five runs in the seventh inning and eight runs in the final three frames.
UConn ends the season with a 19-30 record based on a 6-15 mark in BIG EAST play. With the victory, Notre Dame is crowned 2011 BIG EAST Regular Season Champions. The Irish head into the postseason with a 44-8 record including a 19-1 mark in the BIG EAST Conference
Connecticut went into the fifth inning ahead 10-6 after exploding for nine runs in the bottom of the fourth. The lead wouldn't hold, however, as Notre Dame came on to score two in the top of the fifth, one in the top of the sixth and five in the top of the seventh. Irish catcher Alexia Clay blasted a two-out grand slam for the game-winning runs.
The UConn offense was firing on all cylinders today, resulting in 11 runs on 12 hits. Junior Amy DeLuca went 4-for-5 with a double and two RBI. Sophomores Kim Silva and Marissa Guches had two hits each on the day.
UConn pounced on the Irish pitching staff in the fourth inning, tallying nine runs. Every UConn batter scored in the inning. Guches and DeLuca capped the offensive onslaught with two-RBI doubles.
UConn starter Kiki Saveriano pitched two innings, allowing six runs on six hits.
Junior Ali Adelman came on in relief and pitched four innings, allowing three runs on five hits with five strikeouts. Adelman was in line for the win until the Notre Dame bats came alive in the last inning off freshman relief pitcher Katelyn Callahan.
Callahan allowed five runs on three hits and one walk in the decisive frame. Callahan took the loss and finished the season with a 1-1 record.
UConn failed to reach the playoffs and will wait till next year to get back on the diamond.
Seniors Julianne Towers and Kathleen Brenneman celebrated Senior Day before the game.
Towers finished her career with a .339 batting average in 199 career games. Towers' .339 average ranks sixth all-time at UConn. With her remarkable senior season, Towers ended her career ranked second all-time with 44 doubles, fourth all-time with 106 RBI, second all-time with 28 home runs and third all-time with 351 total bases. As a senior, Towers tied the single-season record for home runs with 11.
