Softball kicks off weekend with two wins

Thursday, March 7

Honolulu, HI

4:30 PM

University of Connecticut

5-11

Cleveland State

3-7

Cleveland State

UCONN

Photo by: Beltz Creative | Jared Beltz

3/8/2024 3:50:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

HONOLULU, Hawaii – UConn softball picked up a pair of wins on Thursday at the Rainbow Wahine Classic. The Huskies opened the day with a 4-2 win over Cleveland State and then followed with a 4-3 win over Hawaii.

Game One:

Hallie Siems made her ninth start of the season for the Huskies. She went 5.0 innings giving up two runs on only two hits, adding eight strikeouts.

Lexi Hastings kick started the Huskies offense in the bottom of the first inning with an inside the park home run, giving UConn an early 1-0 lead.

Savannah Ring added two runs to the lead in the second inning. She singled to center field, scoring Kaitlyn Kibling and Giuliana Abruscato.

Cleveland State got a run back in the third inning. UConn responded right away in the bottom half of the inning with a run. Haley Coupal singled, scoring Kibling from second base, making it 4-1 Huskies.

Cleveland State scored another run in the top of the fifth inning, trimming into the Huskies lead.

Meghan O'Neil came on in relief from Siems in the sixth inning. O'Neil was dominant, retiring all six batters she faced, adding four strikeouts, and helping UConn close out the win.

Game Two:

Payton Kinney got the nod in game two earning her fourth start of the season in the circle. She tossed a gem for the Huskies throwing 5.0 scoreless innings, only giving up three hits and adding a season high nine strikeouts.

The game was a pitcher's duel throughout as both teams combined for only three hits apiece through the first five innings.

UConn's offense came to life in the sixth inning scoring four runs. Rosie Garcia delivered the big hit with a three run homer to dead center, her first of the season, putting the Huskies in front for good. Kibling came across to score the fourth run for the Huskies on what would prove to be the game sealer. She scored from second base on an infield error.

Siems came on in relief for Kinney in the sixth only facing five batters in the inning before being replaced by O'Neil.

Hawaii scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth off a home run to make it a one run ballgame.

O'Neil was able to keep the Hawaii offense at bay adding four strikeouts to her impressive day for the Huskies.

Up Next:

UConn is back in action tomorrow afternoon as they are set to play New Mexico at 6:00pm EST and then a rematch with Hawaii starting at 8:30pm EST.

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