University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
11-7, 0
Seton Hall University
8-8, 0
Softball Captures Series Win Over Seton Hall
3/12/2023 11:05:00 PM | Softball
STORRS, Conn. – The UConn softball team split their doubleheader against Seton Hall on Sunday afternoon, securing their first BIG EAST series win of the season. In game two, the Huskies offense exploded in the sixth inning, scoring eight runs to beat the Pirates, 11-5.
Payton Kinney started in game one, going 2.2 innings giving up only one hit and adding five strikeouts. Hope Jenkins came in relief for Kinney in the third inning. She finished out the game in the circle going 4.1 innings with three strikeouts.
The Huskies struggled to get the key hit in game one, leaving eight runners in scoring position.
Seton Hall scored the game's first run on a wild pitch by Kinney. The Pirates added to their lead in the sixth inning with a two run home run making it 3-0. UConn avoided the shutout with a run in the bottom half of the sixth. Pinch hitter Taylor Zatyk hit a single to score Rosie Garcia making it 3-1.
Meghan O'Neil started in game two for the Huskies going 4.2 innings with two strikeouts. Kinney made her second appearance of the day, coming in relief for O'Neil in the fifth inning. She finished out the game in the circle giving up only one hit.
UConn's offense was kick started by Savannah Ring in the first inning as the freshman knocked in her eighth RBI of the season to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead. Seton Hall responded with a pair of runs in the second inning making it 2-1 Pirates.
The Huskies regained the lead in the fourth inning off the bat of Zatyk. The junior infielder delivered a two run double, adding to her total of eleven runs batted in on the season. Seton Hall once again would retake the lead scoring a run in the fifth and two in the sixth, making it 5-3 Pirates.
UConn's offense found their groove in the sixth inning scoring eight runs on eight hits, sending fourteen batters to the plate. Makenzie Mason started the hit fest, with a double to left field, scoring Grace Jenkins making it a one run ball game. Garcia delivered the big blow with a pinch hit, three-run home run, her first of the season to give the Huskies the lead for good. UConn continued to manufacture runs in the inning as Aziah James made it 8-5 with a bunt single to score Kaitlyn Kibling. Savannah Ring followed up James with another infield single to score Lexi Hastings. Garcia drove in a game high fourth run of the inning with a bases loaded walk to bring in Ring.
The Huskies will return to action next weekend as they travel to Providence to play a three game series with the Friars.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: CARR, Kelsey (3-2)
L: Kinney, Payton (1-5)
Batting:
HR: GILBERT, Olivia 1
RBI: GILBERT, Olivia 2
Base Running:
RUNS: PLA, Marisa 1 ; GILBERT, Olivia 1 ; MUNIZ, Jessica 1
SB: ALLEN, Lela 1 ; ARRUDA, Miranda 1 ; PLA, Marisa 1
HBP: ALLEN, Lela 1 ; CARR, Kelsey 1
Batting:
2B: Hastings, Lexi 1 ; Mason, Makenzie 1
RBI: Zatyk, Taylor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Garcia, Rosie 1
SB: James, Aziah 1 ; Hastings, Lexi 2 ; Mason, Makenzie 1 ; Garcia, Rosie 2 ; Benson, Lauren 1
HBP: Jenkins , Grace 2
