University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
10-10
Central Connecticut State University
4-3
Huskies Run Rule CCSU in Walk-Off Fashion
3/24/2021 9:48:00 PM | Softball
STORRS, Conn. – Reese Guevarra's walk-off 2 RBI inside-the-park home run in the bottom of the fifth opened the new stadium in style and gave UConn (10-10, 2-1 BIG EAST) a 10-2 run-rule victory over Central Connecticut State Wednesday afternoon at Burrill Family Field.
The trio of Guevarra (3-for-4), Madisyn Estorga (1-for-2), and Briana Marcelino (1-for-2, 2B) combined for six of UConn's eight RBI on the day. Hollis Wivell (2-for-2) and Devon Casazza (1-for-2, HR) added the other two. Additionally, Wivell's theft of third base in the bottom of the third gave UConn its 56th stolen bag of the year, breaking the single-season record. The previous record of 55 was held by the 1995 team.
Payton Kinney (5-8) started the contest off for UConn in control of the defense, tossing four efficient innings. She notched seven strikeouts, one walk, and gave up just one hit through 14 batters faced. Kinney was relieved by Meghan O'Neil in the fifth, with the sophomore picking up a strikeout.
The Huskies jumped on the scoreboard first and put four on the board in the bottom of the first. Estorga smashed a single to left field, and the power on the hit positioned it perfectly so that Guevarra could come around and score. Jana Sanden doubled the UConn lead when she scored off Wivell's bunt single. The half inning ended on a pop up, but not before Wivell and Estorga were able to round home plate and make it 4-0.
UConn tacked on two more to its lead in the proceeding half inning, with Marcelino's two-bagger to left center bringing Guevarra in. Sanden increased the advantage to six after she scored on Estorga's sac fly. Following a scoreless third inning, Aziah James tacked on one more to the lead as she made it in off of Marcelino's sac bunt.
CCSU managed to break the seal and denied the shutout bid on a 2 RBI single in the top of the fifth.
The Huskies locked down the result in the bottom of the frame. Casazza notched the first homer in the new stadium, knocking her solo shot to left field. A pair of at-bats later Guevarra slapped one towards the center wall, then raced around the bases before sliding into home plate to finish off the Blue Devils and end the game.
Next Up…
UConn officially opens up Burrill Family Field this weekend with its first BIG EAST home series. The Huskies welcome the Butler Bulldogs to town for a three-game slate, which features a Saturday afternoon doubleheader (12/2 p.m.) and a Sunday matinee (12 p.m.)
Leave Your Mark…
If you are interested in leaving your mark on our new stadium and helping us build our championship legacy please click the link below. Build Blue, brick by brick!
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kinney, Payton (5-8)
L: HOUGHTON, Kate (1-1)
Batting:
2B: BACKLUND, Carli 1
RBI: HOWARD, Kim 2
Base Running:
RUNS: GORMAN, Meg 1 ; ROSE, Kristin 1
SB: GORMAN, Meg 1 ; HOWARD, Kim 1
HBP: GORMAN, Meg 1
Batting:
2B: Marcelino, Briana 1
HR: Guevarra, Reese 1 ; Casazza, Devon 1
RBI: Guevarra, Reese 2 ; Marcelino, Briana 2 ; Estorga, Madisyn 2 ; Wivell, Hollis 1 ; Casazza, Devon 1
SH: James, Aziah 1 ; Marcelino, Briana 1
SF: Estorga, Madisyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Guevarra, Reese 3 ; James, Aziah 1 ; Sanden, Jana 2 ; Estorga, Madisyn 1 ; Wivell, Hollis 1 ; Casazza, Devon 1 ; Mason, Makenzie 1
SB: Guevarra, Reese 2 ; Sanden, Jana 2 ; Wivell, Hollis 1
CS: Mason, Makenzie 1
HBP: Sanden, Jana 1
