University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
UCF
Koshes Strikes Out 11 in Game Two Win Over UCF
4/7/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
STORRS, Conn. - Sophomore Chloe Kerns went a perfect 4-for-4 with three RBI at the plate during Saturday's doubleheader against UCF, as the UConn softball team split with the Knights on a cold, windy day at the Burrill Family Field.
The Huskies (14-24, 1-7 American) dropped the first game to UCF (26-14, 6-2 American), 8-3, but earned a dominant 11-3 victory in five innings during game two - snapping an eight-game losing streak in the process.
Kerns was one of four players to record multiple hits in the doubleheader, while UConn rode a masterful pitching performance from sophomore Katie Koshes in the second game - as the lefty recorded 11 strikeouts in the win.
"Our whole goal today was to put a good barrel on the ball," said head coach Jen McIntyre. "(UCF pitcher Alea White) has had a really good year so far…our goal was to string some hits together and make something happen."
UConn accounted for 15 hits on the day, including three doubles and a solo home run from freshman catcher Maura Glatczak - her second of the season. Freshman Reese Guevarra went 3-for-6 at the dish with two RBI and a run scored.
The series finale with UCF is on Sunday at 12 p.m. Fans are once again encouraged to bring canned food items to donate to Hope Lutheran Church. A collection bin will be stationed near the marketing table.
KKKKKKKKKKKatie talks about Game 2 and how she reached her 11 strikeouts. #UConnNation pic.twitter.com/8jo6DDKu48
- UConn Softball (@UConnSoftball) April 7, 2018
Game 1 - UCF 8, UConn 3
Reese Guevarra went 2-for-2 against UCF pitcher Alea White, but the Huskies could not overcome a five-run sixth inning by the Knights in the first game of the doubleheader - losing an 8-3 decision at Burrill.
Junior pitcher Jill Stockley (6-11) picked up the loss for UConn, allowing eight runs on 12 hits in 5.2 innings of work. She had five strikeouts and walked three against the Knights, leaving five runners on base.
Trailing 2-0 in the third frame, the Huskies scored twice with the bases loaded after sophomore Carli Cutler was hit by a pitch and redshirt freshman Olivia Sappington drew a walk. The inning began with infield singles from Guevarra and junior Kelli Bates.
UCF retook the lead in the fourth on an RBI double by Erin Emanuel, before a five-run sixth put the game out of reach. Cassady Brewer smacked a three-run homer in the inning, putting UConn in an 8-2 hole.
Glatczak narrowed the margin in the sixth when she launched a solo shot over the left field fence, making it 8-3. The Huskies stranded the bases loaded in the sixth, after hard-hit groundouts by freshmen Samantha Barnett and Briana Marcelino.
Kerns added a pinch-hit single in the sixth and sophomore Kiwi McDaniel ripped a single in the third. UCF's White (20-9) struck-out 10 and walked only one in her complete-game effort.
She may be under the weather, but @KernsChloe came to play today. She went 4-for-4 at the plate! #PhaseHow pic.twitter.com/YO2KQiyWOw
- UConn Softball (@UConnSoftball) April 7, 2018
Game 2 - UConn 11, UCF 3 (F/5)
Katie Koshes (2-4) delivered arguably her best performance of the season in game two, striking out 11 batters and allowing just one earned run (three total) in an 11-3 complete-game victory over the Knights.
Koshes pitched 1.1 innings in relief of Stockley in the first game, striking out three in her brief appearance - making Saturday a 14-strikeout effort for the second-year hurler. She stranded seven runners and allowed just two hits in her second game outing.
"Katie threw a great game. She really hit her spots and kept them off-balance," said McIntyre. It is the second time this season that Koshes has recorded double-digit strikeouts in a start (13 against Coastal Carolina, 2/17/18).
Not only was the pitching impressive, but the UConn offense came alive - attacking White's pitches from the beginning. White lasted just 1.2 innings in her second start of the day, allowing four runs (one earned) on three hits.
Kerns shined in the designated player position, going 3-for-3 with three RBI and one run scored in the win. Doubles by Guevarra and Cutler produced runs, while Marcelino added one of her own in the offensive barrage.
The Huskies took a 4-0 lead in the second inning, beginning with an RBI double from Cutler as part of her 2-for-3 performance in the seven-spot. Following a throwing error by UCF, Guevarra cashed in with a two-run double, scoring Bates and Cutler.
After UCF cut the lead to 4-2 in the top half of the third, UConn answered back with a two-RBI single up the middle from Kerns. In the fourth, the lead was extended to 8-2 after RBI singles from Sappington and once again from Kerns.
A three-run fifth inning sealed the mercy-rule win for the Huskies, as a sacrifice fly from Marcelino plated Guevarra to end the game. UCF used four pitchers in the game, combining to allow just three earned runs (11 total) after four errors by the Knights' defense.
It is the first game that UConn has scored 10 runs or more, as it improves to 11-5 when scoring first against opponents this season.
