Huskies shellshock the Shockers

Saturday, March 30

Wichita, Kan.

3:00 Central | 4:00 p.m.Eastern

University of Connecticut

10-17, 1-3

Wichita State University

20-13, 1-3

UConn

Wichita State

Photo by: Stephen Slade

3/30/2019 8:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

WICHITA, Kan.—The UConn softball team stunned Wichita State in a midday contest on Saturday, 4-0. The Huskies picked up their first American Athletic Conference win of the 2019 season behind the pair of home runs from redshirt-sophomore Olivia Sappington and sophomore Briana Marcelino.

The match up started off like any other, with both teams using the opening innings to get a feel for one another. But, the first half inning was all that UConn needed. Junior Carli Cutler posted the first hit for the Huskies. She added some aggressive base running as fellow junior Kiwi McDaniel reached on a fielder's choice, with Cutler out at third on the play. A few batters later, Sappington was due up for UConn and smacked a two RBI home run into right field. The Huskies would take the early 2-0 lead over the Shockers heading into the bottom of the second.

Junior Ashlee Dahman was the leadoff for UConn in the top of the third and reached on an error by the shortstop, on a fly out she stole second. The home run fever took ahold of Marcelino who sent hers over center field, bringing Dahman across home plate as well.

Wichita State didn't fade into the evening like the temperatures did, bringing in the whipping windchill. The Shockers posted five hits on the day and put together a rally in the bottom of the seventh in an attempt to take back the game. The second batter in the order blasted a double to left field and was joined a few batters later by a walked teammate. Another reached on an error by the second baseman to load the bases against starting pitcher sophomore Marybeth Olson and the Husky defense. However, UConn withstood the potential onslaught and emerged victorious in the first of three games against Wichita State.

Olson went the length and only walked a pair of Shockers. She also posted her sixth victory on the season in addition to five strikeouts through 26 at-bats.

With this victory, the Huskies improve the All-Time series versus the Shockers to three wins.

Games Two and Three will be played on Sunday, March 31s in a doubleheader. First-pitch of the first game will be at 10:00 a.m. central (11:00 a.m. eastern) with the final game coming around 3:15 p.m. central (4:15 p.m. eastern).

Click here to be taken to UConn's schedule page.