Huskies Sweep Day 1 of FGCU Invitational

Friday, February 19

Fort Myers, Fla.

11:00 AM

University of Connecticut

1-0

Northern Illinois University

0-1

UConn

NIU

Photo by: Skip Zinn

2/19/2021 8:08:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The UConn softball team swept opening day of the FGCU Invitational, moving to 2-0 on the year following wins over Northern Illinois and Florida International. The Huskies overpowered NIU 7-1 in their first game of the day before rallying for an extra inning, 4-3 victory over the Panthers.

Game 1 – UConn 7, NIU 1

UConn opened the afternoon in dominating fashion. The Huskies registered 11 hits, seven runs and seven RBI's in their season-opening win.

Redshirt-Junior Sami Barnett (2-3) recorded two runs, two RBI's, and a home run paced the offense, with freshman Taylor Zatyk (1-4) finishing right behind with a run, two RBI's and a homerun of her own. Seniors Reese Guevarra (2-5) and Briana Marcelino (1-4), junior Aziah James (2-4) and freshman Lauren Benson also notched runs for the UConn with Marcelino, Benson and Jana Sanden (1-4) chipping in RBI's.

In the circle, freshman Payton Kinney picked up her first collegiate win in her first-career start. Through seven innings of work, Kinney registered eight strikeouts while allowing just four hits and one run through 28 batters faced.

James got the UConn offense going in the top of the first with a single to the pitcher, which she promptly followed with a theft of second base. On the ensuing at-bat, Barnett doubled down the left-field line to score James which gave the Huskies a 1-0 lead. Barnett doubled the UConn lead in the third with a homer to centerfield.

The Huskies took complete control of the game with a trio of runs in the fifth that gave the team a five-run advantage. Guevarra started it off with a single to second, which James followed with a single to third. After Barnett reached on a fielder's choice and Guevarra advanced to third, the redshirt-junior stole second and put UConn right back in scoring position. Marcelino reached on another fielder's choice, Barnett advanced to third, and Guevarra scored to put the team up three. Marcelino caught the defense napping and stole second, then Sanden notched a single that brought Barnett home. Marcelino added a run of her own shortly after to make the score 5-0.

NIU managed to put one on the board in the bottom of the fifth, but that would be the team's lone run of the afternoon.

Zatyk put the finishing touches on the 7-1 win, delivering a homer to left center that also scored Benson.

Game 2 – UConn 4, FIU 3 (9 innings)

The UConn softball team improved to 2-0 after its come-from-behind, 4-3 win over FIU. The Huskies found themselves trailing by two runs heading into the fifth, but the team continued fighting and rallied for the extra-inning victory, thanks to Devon Cassazza's (0-2) game-winning sac fly.

Benson (1-3), James (1-4), Zatyk (1-4), and Ashley Esty (0-0) each tallied runs for the Huskies while Casazza (2), Guevarra and Sanden provided RBI's. Sophomore Meghan O'Neil tallied three strikeouts through nine innings of work and moved to 1-0 this season.

FIU opened up the game scoring with a double to right field in the top of the second. The hit resulted in a pair of unearned runs and gave the Panthers an early 2-0 lead.

Although UConn was unable to get much going on offense in the third and fourth, the team kept grinding away and was finally able to break through in the bottom of the fifth. The frame began with Benson getting walked and Zatyk advancing on a throwing error. Wivell stepped to the plate next and singled to third on a bunt, advancing the runners ahead and placing the Huskies in prime scoring position. Casazza's sac fly brought Benson home, then Guevarra's ground out scored Zatyk and leveled the score at two.

The Huskies had a chance to grab the win in the seventh but couldn't quite to capitalize on the opportunity. Zatyk and Wivell's back-to-back singles followed by Casazza's reach on an FIU fielding error loaded the bases for UConn, but the Panthers found a way to escape the inning and the teams headed to extras with the game tied, 2-2.

FIU took a brief 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth, but UConn responded. James scored off Sanden's single to right field and the contest was tied once more.

Following a quick 1-2-3 by the defense, the Huskies went back on offense with another opportunity to secure the win. This time, they wouldn't let it slip away. Benson was placed on second to begin the latter half of the inning, then advanced to third after Zatyk reached on a fielder's choice. Wivell's bunt single moved Zatyk to second and on the ensuing play, Casazza stepped up to the plate and delivered a game-winning sac fly that brought pinch runner Esty home and gave the Huskies a walk-off victory.