UConn posts split on final day of Mercer Bears Classic

Sunday, March 17

Macon, Ga.

11:15 am

University of Connecticut

7-13

Cleveland State University

6-16

UConn

Cleveland State

Photo by: Eric Espada

3/17/2019 6:24:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

MACON, Ga.—The UConn softball team (8-13) split the final day of the Mercer Bears Classic with games against Cleveland State (6-16) and host Mercer (12-18). The Huskies took the Vikings into extras, for the first time this season. In the afternoon match up versus the Bears, UConn came full force to leave no doubt about the outcome of the contest.

Both games were filled to the brink with outstanding Husky defense spearheaded by the pitching staff of junior Katie Koshes and sophomore Marybeth Olson. The pair appeared in relief of one another after getting the nod to start.

Game 1

Defensively the Huskies were prepared for the Vikings and were able to keep them to only a single hit during regulation. UConn withstood the two early rallies Cleveland State put together for some free softball in the early afternoon.

The Huskies nabbed at least one hit in five of the eight innings played for a total of eight hits. The fourth inning was the most complete half inning for UConn. Junior Carli Cutler was the leadoff and did not disappoint with a single up the middle. Fellow junior Kiwi McDaniel singled to left center and sent Cutler to second. Freshman Alexis Lemus singled to center field and loaded the bases momentarily as Cutler displayed some aggressive base running and was caught trying to steal home. Sophomore Maura Glatczak's at-bat sent Lemus and McDaniel to second and third respectively. The two would be left stranded on a groundout to first base.

With neither team able to outmaneuver the other for a run, the top of the eighth began with freshman Aziah James placed at second base. She would steal third on a passed ball. Fellow freshman Ashley Esty's single sent her to second on the throw. However, UConn was unable to capitalize and bring the runners in.

A Viking would also be placed at second base and on a sacrifice bunt would be sent over to third. Followed by a sacrifice fly to right field, Cleveland State brought their baserunner in to score on the throw.

Koshes tossed five innings while Olson relieved her to finish the 2.2 innings. The duo combined for 11 strikeouts against 31 batters.

Game 2

A brief intermission gave the Huskies a short time to recoup and then it was game time once again, this time against the host Bears. UConn shook off the 1-0 result of Game One, and focused solely on this match up and it truly showed.

The Huskies took it straight to the Bears in the opening inning, posting a pair of hits right off the bat. Both teams however, would go scoreless until UConn broke the seal in the top of the third. A McDaniel single to center field placed Esty at second and James at third. Sophomore Reese Guevarra knocked a doubled to left center and scored James as well as Esty.

The Huskies didn't stop there after successfully negating a Bears rally in the bottom of the fifth. UConn scored four over the course the last two innings. In the top of the sixth, junior Chloe Kerns' sacrifice fly allowed Guevarra to cross home plate. In the seventh, Esty reached on a fielding error by the second baseman on a sacrifice bunt which sent James to score. McDaniel singled through the left side to round Marcelino. Lastly, Guevarra sealed the deal with a dinger sent to center field that allowed senior Kelli Bates to score the Huskies' sixth and final run of the afternoon.

This time Olson started in the circle for UConn and went 5.1 innings before Koshes relieved her to toss the remaining 1.2 innings. Going for 12 strikeouts collectively the duo faced 30 batters only giving up five hits and a run altogether.

The Huskies will take on the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday, March. 19th at 3:00 p.m. in a single game contest in Daytona Beach, Florida.