University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Central Connecticut State University
Huskies back at Burrill for four game slate
4/15/2019 2:19:00 PM | Softball
STORRS, Conn.—The UConn (15-24, 4-8 AAC) softball team returns to Burrill Family Field after some time away to take on Central Connecticut State and USF this week. The Huskies will host the Blue Devils in a midweek nonconference single game before welcoming the Bulls to town for another American Athletic Conference series beginning on Thursday, April 18th.
SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK
TUESDAY, vs. Central Connecticut State @ 4:00 p.m. | Stats | Stream | Radio
THURSDAY, vs. USF @ 3:00 p.m. | Stats | Stream | Radio
FRIDAY, vs. USF @ 3:00 p.m. | Stats | Stream | Radio
SATURDAY, vs. USF @ 10:30 a.m. | Stats | Stream | Radio
UConn recently returned from Houston after taking on the Cougars in a tough weekend series. The Huskies slid down a spot in the AAC 2019 Softball Standings after the series loss. Redshirt-sophomore Olivia Sappington joins her teammates Briana Marcelino and Marybeth Olson, after garnering conference recognition for her efforts last week. She started in UConn's four games last week at the designated player position and through her 11 at bats posted one run, on four hits, a pair of RBIs, one home run, a sacrifice fly, with a batting average of .364. Sappington also had an on base percentage of .333 and a slugging percentage of .636.
UCONN IN THE RANKINGS
| Name | Category | National Rank | Conference Rank |
| Briana Marcelino | Batting Average | 134 | 3 |
| Hits | 125 | 4 | |
| RBIs Per Game | 144 | 2 | |
| Slugging Percentage | 153 | 2 | |
| Total Base | 116 | 2 | |
| Marybeth Olson | Walks Allowed Per Seven Innings | 63 | 2 |
| ERA | 104 | 7 | |
| Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio | 32 | 1 | |
| Strikeouts | 69 | 4 | |
| Strikeouts Per Seven Innings | 63 | 2 | |
| Katie Koshes | Strikeouts Per Seven Innings | 147 | 5 |
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
CCSU competes in the Northeast Conference and holds a record of 2-6 with a 15-17 overall record. The Blue Devil softball team is led by Head Coach Breanne Gleason, entering her sixth season. CCSU's 2019 roster is a fairly young squad when it comes to experience with only five upperclassmen to the 13 combined freshmen and sophomores. The Blue Devil softball team was selected fourth overall in the 2019 NEC Preseason Coaches' Poll just behind Saint Francis U., LIU Brooklyn, and Sacred Heart (eight first-place votes). CCSU's freshman Rian Eigenmann was selected as the NEC's Player of the Week a few weeks ago.
USF sits atop the American Conference with an overall record of 32-15 to go along with their 10-2 conference record. The Bulls will enter the match up on Thursday against the Huskies riding a three game winning streak after downing the Knights of UCF for their third AAC series win. Head Coach Ken Eriksen's 2019 roster is made up of 26 student-athletes and very well-balanced. USF has 11 upperclassmen to counter 15 younger ones. The Bulls are also the reigning conference champions and were voted as the conference favorite back in January during the 2019 AAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Bulls have also had numerous conference player of the week and honor roll recognitions.
