Huskies Stumble on Day One

Friday, February 26

Waco, Texas

2:00 PM

University of Connecticut

3-2

University of Mississippi

5-5

UConn

Ole Miss

Photo by: Skip Zinn

2/26/2021 9:24:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

WACO, Texas – The UConn softball team (3-4) stumbled in the first day of the Lone Star State Invitational, falling to Ole Miss and Baylor Friday afternoon at Getterman Stadium.

The Huskies will return to the diamond tomorrow for another set of games. UConn opens play Saturday afternoon against Lamar at 1:00 p.m., then gets set for a 6:00 rematch against Baylor.

Game 1 – Ole Miss 7, UConn 0

UConn notched seven hits in the contest, including one double. Devon Casazza and Reese Guevarra posted two hits apiece, while Aziah James, Jana Sanden, and Briana Marcelino each added one. In the circle, freshman Payton Kinney (2-2) picked up three strikeouts in the loss.

The first three innings were a defensive showcase, as both sides held the opposing offense to just two hits. Ole Miss looked to grab the early lead in the bottom of the first, but a great defensive play by the Huskies kept the Rebel's off the scoreboard. On a popup, Blaise Biringer attempted to steal home. But the Huskies were able to pick up the out thanks to a spectacular throw from Marcelino to Casazza.

UConn picked up a couple of hits in the third inning as the team looked to get the offense going. Following Ashley Esty's ground out to open the frame, Casazza picked up the Huskies' first hit on a single through the left side, which Guevarra followed with a single to center field. James' ground out on the ensuing at-bat positioned Guevarra at second, and with Casazza already at third, the Huskies were threatening with runners in scoring position. Ole Miss managed to get out the inning unscathed, however, and the score remained leveled at zero.

Ole Miss grabbed a 3-0 lead after putting three on the board in the bottom of the fourth. The Rebels opened up the game scoring with a home run to left field, then brought two more runners home on a double to center field and a single to left field to increase their advantage to three.

The Huskies, looking to slice into the deficit, picked up another pair of hits in the fifth on back-to-back singles from Guevarra and James. UConn again had a runner in scoring position, but Ole Miss picked up the half-inning's final out, denying the Huskies once again.

The Rebels added four more runs in the bottom fifth to increase their lead to 7-0, the game's final margin.

Game 2 – ^#21Baylor 5, UConn 0

The UConn offense struggled to get going in the second outing, registering just three hits – two from Zatyk and one from Jana Sanden. Sophomore Meghan O'Neil (1-2) notched a strikeout in her six innings of work.

After Baylor put one on the board in the first, UConn put themselves in good position to level the score at one in the top of the second. Zatyk got it going with a single to second base, then classmate Lauren Benson was intentionally walked by the Baylor pitching staff. A couple plays later, the Huskies were threatening with runners in scoring position after Zatyk moved to third and Benson advanced to third on a wild pitch. UConn was denied a chance at the equalizer, however, as a fly out ended the inning.

The Lady Bears added a pair of runs in the third and fourth to increase their lead to 5-0, and their defense recorded quick innings to reach the final result.