University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
9-6
Iona University
2-6
Softball sweeps Iona on final day of Liberty Invitational
3/5/2023 11:51:00 PM | Softball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The UConn softball team (10-6) defeated the Iona Gaels twice on Sunday afternoon to finish the Liberty Invitational 3-1.
Meghan O'Neil started in the circle in game one tossing a gem, going six strong innings. She kept the Gaels scoreless for the first five innings working three straight 1-2-3 innings. She finished with a season high eight strikeouts earning her third win of the season.
UConn opened the scoring in the second inning as Haley Coupal scored Savannah Ring on a ground out. The Huskies added to their lead in the third inning with two more runs. Grace Jenkins hit her second double of the game to score Aziah James. Makenzie Mason followed, fighting back after going down 0-2 in the count with a single to left field to score Jenkins.
UConn added a run in the sixth inning as Coupal drove in her second run of the game with a single to score Mason.
Iona trimmed into the Huskies lead in the sixth inning scoring three runs, but the Huskies responded with an insurance run in the seventh to make it 5-3. Ring hit a single up the middle to score pinch runner Giuliana Abruscato.
Delaney Nagy came in to close out the 5-3 win for the Huskies earning her first save of the season.
Hope Jenkins started on the mound in game two for the Huskies. She went five innings with five strikeouts earning her fifth win of the season. O'Neil came in relief for Jenkins, finishing out the final two innings in the circle for the Huskies giving up only one hit with four strikeouts. She finished the day with twelve strikeouts in eight innings pitched.
UConn took an early 3-0 lead in the first inning off the bat of Taylor Zatyk. She doubled with the bases loaded to clear the bases, giving the Huskies an early lead.
Iona scored two runs to trim the lead in the third inning. The Huskies responded in the bottom half of the inning scoring four runs. After UConn loaded the bases, Lexi Hastings and Taylor Zatyk worked back to back walks to bring in two runs. Lauren Benson singled to right field, scoring Jana Sanden from third. Later in the inning, Abruscato hit a sacrifice fly to score Hastings giving UConn a commanding 7-2 lead.
Iona added a run in the fifth inning, but the Huskies once again responded with a run of their own. Abruscato drove in her second run of the game hitting a single to score Rosie Garcia making it 8-3 UConn.
The Huskies kick off their BIG EAST slate next weekend as they welcome Seton Hall to Storrs for Opening weekend. Tickets are available HERE.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jenkins , Hope (5-1)
L: DeJianne, Alyssa (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Werth, Hannah 1 ; Chilcott, Jessica 1
3B: Weaver, Haley 1
RBI: Werth, Hannah 1 ; Chilcott, Jessica 2
SF: Werth, Hannah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Werth, Hannah 1 ; Weaver, Haley 2
Batting:
2B: Jenkins , Grace 1 ; Zatyk, Taylor 1 ; Garcia, Rosie 1
RBI: Hastings, Lexi 1 ; Zatyk, Taylor 4 ; Benson, Lauren 1 ; Abruscato, Giuliana 2
SF: Abruscato, Giuliana 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jenkins , Grace 2 ; Ring, Savannah 1 ; Sanden, Jana 2 ; Hastings, Lexi 2 ; Garcia, Rosie 1
SB: Jenkins , Grace 1 ; Ring, Savannah 1 ; Hastings, Lexi 1 ; Abruscato, Giuliana 1
