University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
9-10, 2-1
Creighton University
7-7, 3-3
UConn Takes Weekend Series Against Creighton
3/21/2021 4:06:00 PM | Softball
OMAHA, Neb. – The UConn (9-10, 2-1 BIG EAST) softball team picked up a series win in its first weekend of BIG EAST play, dropping Creighton, 10-5, Sunday afternoon to take the three-game set, two games to one.
The Huskies posted a trio of home runs on their way to the five-run victory – all three come off the bats of freshmen Jana Sanden (2) and Madisyn Estorga. The classmates also combined for eight of UConn's nine RBI, with Sanden posting six while Estorga added a pair. Payton Kinney notched her fourth win of the season after pitching six innings and throwing five strikeouts. She came in for Meghan O'Neil, who earned the start, in the bottom of the second.
The Bluejays drew first blood, scoring in the opening inning on a bases-loaded walk. That would be the first, and last lead the home team would hold on the afternoon.
Sanden opened up the scoring for UConn in the top of the third, sending her second home run of the weekend over right center. The 3 RBI blast brought in Aziah James and Emily Piergustavo and put the Huskies ahead, 3-1.
UConn tacked on another pair of runs in the proceeding half inning, with Ashley Esty's single bringing Casazza, the second batter in the order, in. Reese Guevarra was due up next for UConn and slapped a two-bagger down the right-field line to reward Esty at home plate, doubling up the lead. Creighton managed to get one back in the bottom of the frame, pulling within three.
The fifth inning saw both teams put two on board. Estorga sent her shot to left field and brought Marcelino in with her for a 7-2 Husky lead. Creighton responded with a bomb to left center which trimmed the gap back down to three.
UConn's offense wasn't finished, and iced the game in the sixth on Sanden's second of the afternoon. The Riverton, Conn., native sent a dinger flying over the right field wall – pushing the Huskies' weekend total to eight! The 3 RBI homer rounded James and Esty, ballooning the lead to six.
Creighton mounted an attempted rally on Kinney and her defense. The Bluejays garnered a run on a solo home run to right center, but would get nothing else. A foul out to third base would be the end for Creighton, and the game.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kinney, Payton (4-8)
L: BOYD, Parker (5-5)
Batting:
2B: Guevarra, Reese 1 ; Casazza, Devon 1
HR: Sanden, Jana 2 ; Estorga, Madisyn 1
RBI: Guevarra, Reese 1 ; Sanden, Jana 6 ; Estorga, Madisyn 2
SH: Esty, Ashley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: James, Aziah 2 ; Sanden, Jana 2 ; Marcelino, Briana 1 ; Estorga, Madisyn 1 ; Casazza, Devon 1 ; Piergustavo, Emily 1 ; Esty, Ashley 2
SB: James, Aziah 1 ; Marcelino, Briana 1
CS: James, Aziah 1
HBP: Marcelino, Briana 1
Batting:
HR: WILSON, Kailey 1 ; MILLS, Kiara 1
RBI: CANTU, Ashley 1 ; WILSON, Kailey 1 ; MILLS, Kiara 2 ; PECHAR, Mikaela 1
SH: ALM, Sam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SANDELL, Courtney 1 ; WILSON, Kailey 1 ; ALM, Sam 1 ; MILLS, Kiara 1 ; ALVAREZ, Victoria 1
HBP: PECHAR, Mikaela 2
