University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Houston
Softball Earns DH Split with Houston
4/28/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
STORRS, Conn. - The UConn softball team bounced back after a loss in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader with Houston, fighting to a 4-2 victory in the second contest and earning a split on a beautiful day at Burrill Family Field.
Sophomore Carli Cutler and freshman Briana Marcelino each had two hits on the day for the Huskies (19-31, 4-13 American), with each accounting for an RBI in the win over the Cougars (31-19, 9-8 American).
"The season for us has always been about clutch hitting," said head coach Jen McIntyre. "We'll take timely hits when we get them. It was great for us to bounce back in the second game."
Junior pitcher Jill Stockley stole the show in the second game, going the distance in a two-run, seven-hit performance. She struck-out five hitters and walked only one against a formidable Houston lineup that accounted for eight runs and eight hits in the first game.
"I can't say enough about (Jill). She did a nice job today hitting her spots, changing speeds, and keeping the hitters off balance," said McIntyre. Stockley is 3-1 in her last four starts, three of which have been complete games.
Senior Day is scheduled for Sunday, as UConn hosts Houston in the final home game of the season. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. and seniors Chelsea Eckert, Ryne Nakama and Emma Stanley will be honored in a pregame ceremony.
Game 1 - Houston 8, UConn 0 (F/5)
The Huskies were blanked by the Cougars in the first game, 8-0, dropping the contest in five innings despite hits from Cutler and redshirt freshman Olivia Sappington. Sophomore pitcher Katie Koshes (4-8) picked up the loss for the Huskies.
Savannah Heebner earned the complete-game win for Houston, as she struck-out five and walked just one in five innings of work. She stranded five UConn runners in the game, including a situation with runners on the corners with no outs in the second.
Houston took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, after Heebner hit a solo home run off Koshes - who allowed four runs on five hits in 2.1 innings of work against the Cougars.
In the third and fourth innings, Houston scored three runs each to extend its lead to 7-0 - scoring off both Eckert and freshman Marybeth Olson, who relieved Koshes in the circle. Sarah Queen went 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored for the Cougars.
UConn's best scoring chance came in the second, when Cutler hit a lead-off double, followed by Sappington's single. With runners on the corners and no outs, the Huskies were unable to punch any runs across - still trailing Houston after the frame ended.
🎥 @carli_alayna had an RBI double in the Game 2 win over @UHCougarSB. Listen to her thoughts! pic.twitter.com/Yim9qdjiEw
- UConn Softball (@UConnSoftball) April 28, 2018
Game 2 - UConn 4, Houston 2
Timely hitting proved to be the difference in the second game, as the Huskies held on for a 4-2 win over Houston behind a three-run fourth inning and the brilliance of Stockley in the circle.
Tied 1-1 in the fourth, the Huskies strung together three-consecutive, two-out RBI hits by Marcelino, Cutler and sophomore Kiwi McDaniel off starting pitcher Tristan Melancon to take a 4-1 advantage - a lead that turned out to be permanent against the Cougars.
UConn provided more than enough offense for Stockley, as she stranded 10 Houston runners - including the bases loaded in the first inning - to keep the Huskies in front late in the game. She allowed just one earned run (two total) on seven hits in her second-straight complete-game effort.
The win improved UConn's home record to 5-8 this season and gives the Huskies momentum heading into Sunday's home finale against Houston.
"Our whole mantra this year has been to stick together and to take care of our field," said McIntyre. "That's what it was all about today. It wasn't worrying about the opponent, just taking care of our business and putting all three parts together."
Sophomore Chloe Kerns got the scoring started in the third inning, as she was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded - plating junior Kelli Bates to give UConn a 1-0 lead. Houston answered in the top of the fourth by scoring on a fielding error by Marcelino, making it 1-1.
In the bottom half of the fourth, Nakama reached on a lead-off walk and advanced to third on groundouts by freshman Reese Guevarra and Bates. Marcelino then ripped her team-leading 12th double of the season to bring in Nakama for a 2-1 edge.
Cutler and McDaniel followed with RBI hits of their own, pushing the lead to 4-1 and chasing Melancon from the game. Presley Bell took over in the circle for Houston, allowing no runs on one hit in 2.1 innings of relief.
"I think it was our 'pass the bat' mentality and each player focused on just doing their part and not over-extending themselves," said Cutler on the clutch hitting.
Stockley held-off the Cougars in the final three innings, allowing a second run in the seventh, but continued to pressure each batter. Houston was just 4-for-16 with runners on base (.250) against the UConn hurler.
It is the Huskies' second all-time win against the Cougars and snaps a six-game losing streak to Houston. UConn improves to 3-8 in home conference games this season.
