SB Takes Season Series against Seton Hall

Thursday, May 6

Storrs, Conn.

1:00 PM

University of Connecticut

19-15, 0

Seton Hall University

8-20, 0

Seton Hall

UConn

Photo by: Stephen Slade

5/6/2021 9:33:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

STORRS, Conn. – The UConn (20-15, 12-6 BE) softball team posted a split decision in its BIG EAST doubleheader against Seton Hall (8-21, 4-11 BE) Thursday afternoon at Burrill Family Field. The Huskies were tripped up in game one, 2-1, before bouncing back with a 6-2 win in the second.

Game 1 – Seton Hall 2, UConn 1

Marybeth Olson (1-1) took to the circle in the first game of the afternoon and led the charge for the UConn defense. She tossed 4.2 innings striking out five batters with just one walk through 19 Seton Hall at bats before being relieved by Meghan O'Neil. The defense also recorded a double play which featured a sick catch by Jana Sanden.

Jana Sanden flashes the glove for the double play!#WEBeforeME | #BrickxBrick pic.twitter.com/Zda4nwhhjA
— UConn Softball (@UConnSoftball) May 6, 2021

On the offensive side of the diamond, UConn kept coming at the Pirates over the course of the seven innings. The Huskies notched a hit in four of the seven frames, producing five total.

Following a scoreless first two innings, the Pirates struck for the game's first run after they were able to score on a single after the baserunner had reached via a single to right center. However, the Huskies quickly regrouped behind Olson and closed out the frame on a swinging strikeout.

In the bottom of the fifth, a single shifted the pinch runner, who subbed in for the first baserunner, enough to score their second and final run of the game.

UConn broke through the seal in the bottom of the seventh to score their first and only run of the contest. Sami Barnett, the third batter in the order, doubled through the left side to get the Huskies aboard. She would be rewarded on the ensuing at bat as Briana Marcelino knocked a two-bagger to right field to bring Barnett in.

Game 2 – UConn 6, Seton Hall 2

A brief intermission gave UConn a short time to recoup and then it was game time once again. Once play resumed, the Huskies wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard. In the bottom of the first, Guevarra led off with a single up the middle then stole second – her 16^th bag theft of the season. Following a sac out, Sanden stepped into the batter's box and knocked a 2 RBI dinger over the left field wall. Her eighth home run of the season gave the Huskies an early 2-0 lead.

Seton Hall tied the game at two apiece in the top of the third on a 2 RBI single up the middle, but UConn issued an immediate response by putting a three spot on the board.

Emily Piergustavo was hit by the pitch to start the bottom third off and took up real estate at first before Guevarra's walk shifted her up to second. Sanden knocked a single into center field to load up the bases and then Barnett's double down the left field line brought in Guevarra and Piergustavo to put UConn back in front by a pair. Sanden scored directly after on Marcelino's sac fly which gave the Huskies a 5-2 lead. Lauren Benson pushed the UConn lead to four in the next half inning on Guevarra's double to right field.

Sami Barnett hits one deep to bring Reese Guevarra and Emily Piergustavo home! UConn leads 4-2 at the bottom of the third.#WEBeforeME | #BrickxBrick pic.twitter.com/QzZu6pOkNr
— UConn Softball (@UConnSoftball) May 6, 2021

The UConn defense sat the Seton Hall batters down in order across the final three innings to put the finishing touches on the win.

Payton Kinney earned the start in the circle and tossed four innings with a pair of strikeouts on the way to her ninth win of the season. O'Neil tossed three innings of relief and notched a save.

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