UConn takes season series against Wichita State

Sunday, March 31

Wichita, Kan.

10:00 am Central | 11:00 am Eastern

University of Connecticut

11-17, 2-3

Wichita State University

20-14, 1-4

UConn

Wichita State

Celebration for Marcelino after home run

Photo by: Stephen Slade

3/31/2019 7:19:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

WICHITA, Kan.—The UConn softball (11-18, 2-4 AAC) team posted a split decision on the day in an American Athletic Conference doubleheader against Wichita State (21-14, 2-4 AAC). The Huskies took the win in game one with a score of 4-2 and a loss in the following with a score of 8-6.

UConn knocked four home runs out of the park today between the two games, with a pair of those belonging to sophomore Briana Marcelino. Redshirt-sophomore Olivia Sappington and junior Kiwi McDaniel joined in on the home run fest as well.

Game 1

The Huskies nabbed win number two over the Shockers in the opening contest on the day increasing their conference wins to two. UConn was aggressive from the first pitch, and reaped the reward during Marcelino's at-bat. Being the second batter in the order in the top of the second, she smacked the ball high over right center. The half inning closed before pinch runner freshman Aziah James and fellow freshman Alexis Lemus could be brought home.

In the top of the fourth, McDaniel was the leadoff hitter and doubled to right center. Sappington reentered the game and immediately homered to right field bringing McDaniel with her. At this point UConn inched out to a 3-0 lead and chased starting Shockers pitcher from the circle. The Wichita State pitcher proceeded to walk junior Ashlee Dahman, freshman Ashley Esty, and Reese Guevarra. And on the bases loaded situation another Shocker would take the mound in hopes of stalling the Huskies but it would be a futile endeavor. Marcelino was the next to be walked and propelled Dahman to cross home plate. The UConn lead would increase to 4-0.

Wichita State mounted a comeback in the bottom of the fifth beginning with a single up the middle. A wild pitch advanced that baserunner to second. A walk was followed by a double to right center and scored a pair. The Shockers closed in on the Huskies with this rally, but UConn kept Wichita State to only one hit to end the game.

Junior Katie Koshes started in the circle for the Huskies and tossed 5.2 innings with several strikeouts. Sophomore Marybeth Olson relived Koshes going the remaining 1.1 innings, only giving up one hit.

Game 2

The Shockers drew first blood in the third and final game of the day, scoring in the opening inning on a home run to center field. They followed that with another home run a couple of innings later this time to left field. Wichita State's 8-0 lead wouldn't hold for very long.

Guevarra started off the top of the fourth with a single to right field. Her hard work in the batter's box was reward as Marcelino knocked another home run over center field. A batter later, McDaniel's double to right center was followed by Sappington's double to left center allowing McDaniel to score. The Huskies posted three runs, four hits, and left only one stranded.

A pitching change for the Wichita State didn't alter the goal for UConn, as sophomore Maura Glatczak was walked. Esty singled up the middle and moved Glatczak over a base. Guevarra reached on a fielder's choice that put Esty at second but Glatczak out on the play at third. However, the woman of the hour entered the batter's box and launched another home run to center field rounding Esty as well as Guevarra. The Huskies had cut into the Shocker's lead with the score now 8-6.

UConn attempted to put together a comeback in the top of the sixth with a pair of singles from Sappington and Lemus. Wichita State would bring out yet another pitcher to squander the rally.

Olson got the nod to start in the circle for the Huskies and tossed 2.1 innings in addition to five strikeouts. Freshman Kylie Gavitt relieved Olson and pitched 1.2 innings against 10 batters. Koshes finished off the contest going 2.0 innings and only gave up one hit with a pair of strikeouts.

UConn owns two of the three games of this season series, bringing the All-Time series to four wins and six losses. The Huskies are back in action against the Hawks of Hartford in the rescheduled doubleheader, on Tuesday with first-pitch at 1:00 p.m.