UConn offense led by Casazza homer not enough on Day Two of Upstate Classic

Saturday, February 16

Spartanburg, S.C.

2:30 pm

University of Connecticut

3-4

Boston University

6-3

Boston

UConn

Photo by: Eric Espada/UCONN Athletics

UConn offense led by Casazza homer not enough on Day Two of Upstate Classic

2/16/2019 9:09:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SPARTANBURG, S.C.—The UConn (3-5) softball team battled through a pair of rematch games against Boston University (6-3) and USC Upstate (6-1) on the final day of the Upstate Classic. Due to weather conditions the Huskies were unable to face the Hokies of Virginia Tech or the Falcons of Bowling Green as regularly scheduled.

The weather changed the scheduling of the Classic several times, even on today where game times had to be altered to ensure play. First-pitch for the match up against BU came at 2:30 p.m. while the game against Upstate began at 5:30 p.m.

Game 1

Keen to the strategies of the Terriers, the Huskies kept the scoring at bay for a pair of innings with quick defensive turnarounds. Boston would go three up, three down through two outside of a UConn error to reach base.

The Huskies got things rolling in the bottom of the fourth as Reese Guevarra singled to second base. Kelli Bates singled to the same exact spot, propelling Guevarra to second. Briana Marcelino reached on a fielder's choice and with Bates out on the play, Guevarra took up real estate at third base in prime position to score.Carli Cutler was due up next for UConn and did not miss her opportunity to bring her teammate home. With a single of her own, Cutler took first and then advanced to second on the throw while Marcelino moved over to third. The inning would end before the pair were able to make it home.

Having found their groove, the Huskies had Kiwi McDaniel, Devon Casazza, and Aziah James due up to leadoff in the bottom of the fifth. McDaniel was walked and Casazza reached on a fielder's choice with McDaniel out at second. James' single to third base would allow Casazza to take third and chase Upstate's Handfield from the circle to be replaced by Gant. Unfazed, Bates stepped into the batter's box and sent the ball beaming up the middle to score Casazza. Marcelino would hit a sacrifice fly into left field to round James. The Huskies' half inning came to a close with two runs, on three hits, no errors, and two left on base.

The Terriers found their footing in the top of the third scoring on a single to right center and a sacrifice fly to right field a play later. They would add four more in the following inning and several in the top of the sixth to ultimately take the game at 9-3.

Katie Koshes (0-1)led the UConn defense through 3.1 innings delivering several strikeouts and was relieved by Marybeth Olson who tossed 3.2 innings.

Game 2

With the top of the order unable to bring Guevarra home in the opening inning, next up would be McDaniel, Samantha Barnett, and Casazza. One out on the board, Barnett singles to the pitcher. Casazza took her place in the batter's box and went yard over center field for a two RBI home run. The Huskies would hold a 2-0 lead over the Spartans into the bottom of the fifth.

A bases loaded situation began a rally that dealt Upstate a four-run half inning on three hits, while leaving two on base. The Spartans would hold off a Cutler single and a speedy pinch runner in Ashley Esty for Ashlee Dahman who reached on an Upstate error, to win 4-2.

Jill Stockley (1-3) provided a pair of strikeouts over 4.2 innings before being relieved by Koshes who went the final 1.1 innings.

UConn will head back down to the Sunshine State to take on the softball teams of Florida Gulf Coast and Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Feb. 23rd-Sunday, Feb. 24th. The FAU Strike-Out Cancer Tournament will be in Boca Raton, Fla. with first-pitch coming at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.