University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Central Connecticut
Huskies Snap Skid, Beat CCSU on Wednesday
4/18/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
STORRS, Conn. - Junior pitcher Jill Stockley matched a career-high with seven strikeouts on Wednesday afternoon, as the UConn softball team edged Central Connecticut State, 2-1, at Burrill Family Field in midweek action.
The Huskies (16-28) received multi-hit games from freshman Briana Marcelino and sophomore Carli Cutler, while Stockley took care of the rest against the Blue Devils (14-23). She allowed just one run on four hits in the complete-game effort.
"Jill just has ice in her veins; she competes every time she is out there," said head coach Jen McIntyre. "She threw a great game today and did a nice job hitting her spots. She worked with a couple pitches we are trying to get ready for the weekend and did a great job."
The win snaps a four-game losing skid for UConn, heading into a three-game set with Memphis this weekend in American Athletic Conference action. The Huskies picked up the victory just before an upcoming travel day on Thursday.
"Every win is a big win. Our whole mission, our whole goal this time of year is to get hot coming down the stretch," said McIntyre. "We use a lot of our midweek games to take on the region and the team was focused, aggressive and ready to play today."
Both teams went scoreless in the final four innings of the game, as Stockley dueled with CCSU starter Peyton Silverman - who allowed one earned run (two total) on seven hits in six innings of work for the Blue Devils.
🎥 @CoachJenMac breaks down the 2-1 win over @CCSUsoftball. #UConnNation pic.twitter.com/ZE7xERDFGb
- UConn Softball (@UConnSoftball) April 18, 2018
After CCSU tied the game in the top of the third, UConn rallied in the bottom half to load the bases for sophomore Kiwi McDaniel - who earned an RBI walk to score junior Kelli Bates and give the Huskies a permanent advantage.
In the first inning, Cutler recorded the first of her two hits with an RBI single to right field, plating Marcelino from second to make it 1-0. Marcelino reached base after smacking her team-leading 10th double of the season and fourth in the last three games.
Briana Marcelino hitting a double #PhaseHow pic.twitter.com/6fFDyZ1Mdb
- UConn Softball (@UConnSoftball) April 18, 2018
Stockley took over once UConn regained the lead, as she stranded five CCSU runners on base throughout the game and held the opposing bats to just 1-for-9 (.111) with runners in scoring position. It was her team-best 11th complete-game outing this season.
"I was getting a lot of swings-and-misses, which I don't do very much since I'm more of a contact pitcher, but I just tried to hit my spots and make it work for me," said Stockley.
UConn improves to 60-8 all-time against in-state foe CCSU. Redshirt freshman Olivia Sappington also extended her on-base streak to eight games, matching a season-best for any Husky this season.
Friday marks the beginning of a three-game series with Memphis, as first pitch from the Tigers Softball Complex is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET. After the weekend, UConn returns home to host Bryant on Tuesday, April 24 at 3 p.m.
