University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
6-5
Elon University
2-5
Huskies Split First Day of Carolina Classic
3/5/2021 8:44:00 PM | Softball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The UConn softball team (6-6) earned a split on the opening day of the Carolina Classic. The Huskies picked up a 7-3 victory over Elon, then battled eight innings with North Carolina before falling, 3-1.
UConn racked up 12 hits in 28 plate appearances and put seven runs on the board in the win over the Phoenix. Hollis Wivell paced the offense, going 3-of-4 with a run and an RBI. Taylor Zatyk tallied a home run and four RBI's with Devon Casazza (1-2) chipping in an RBI as well. Briana Marcelino (2-4) and Jana Sanden (2-3) each notched a pair of runs and Lauren Benson (1-2) added one of her own to round out the offensive production. In the circle, Meghan O'Neil collected three strikeouts and improved to 3-2 on the year.
The Huskies' tilt against UNC was more of a grind-it-out affair and featured strong play from both defenses. Guevarra (1-4) put up a home run and an RBI to lead the offense; Aziah James and Sanden produced the other two UConn hits. Payton Kinney had a nice showing in the circle, allowing just five hits with one walk while setting a new career-high with 10 strikeouts.
Game 1 – UConn 7, Elon 3
UConn jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back. Sanden got the Huskies on base after getting hit by a pitch, Marcelino followed with a single to third, then Benson got a walk. With the bases loaded, Zatyk stepped up to the plate and knocked a grand slam into left field which gave the team a four-run advantage.
The Huskies increased their advantage to six after adding a pair in the third. Marcelino scored off Wivell's single to third, then after stealing second and third base back-to-back, Wivell made it in off Casazza's single through the left side to make it 6-0.
Elon cut the deficit in half after putting three on the board in the bottom fifth, but that was as close as the Phoenix would get. Sanden's second of the game made it 7-3, then the Huskies went three up, three down to lock down the result.
Game 2: UNC 3, UConn 1 (8 Innings)
The Huskies and Tar Heels were locked into a defensive battle. The game remained scoreless through the first five innings, with both teams allowing just two hits up to that point.
UConn broke through for the game's first point in the top of the sixth, as Guevarra led off the inning with a blast over the right field wall that gave the visitors a 1-0 lead.
UNC managed to find the equalizer in the seventh, however, and scored on a fielding error after the ball took an unlucky UConn bounce. The Tar Heels completed their comeback and captured the 3-1 victory with a home run to right center.
Up Next…
The Huskies will look to rebound tomorrow morning against No. 17 South Carolina. First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m.
Leave Your Mark…
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Pickett,B (5-2)
L: Kinney, Payton (3-4)
Batting:
HR: Guevarra, Reese 1
RBI: Guevarra, Reese 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Guevarra, Reese 1
SB: James, Aziah 1 ; Zatyk, Taylor 1
CS: Zatyk, Taylor 1
Batting:
2B: Greene,T 1
HR: Greene,T 1
RBI: Greene,T 2
SH: Licea,K 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Burkhardt,K 1 ; Stubbs,B 1 ; Greene,T 1
CS: Baptista,K 2
