University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
24-24, 14-5
Creighton
26-22, 14-5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creighton | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 15 | 1 |
| UConn | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | X | 12 | 13 | 0 |
Huskies Edge Creighton in Series Opener
4/24/2026 10:59:00โฏPM | Softball
STORRS, Conn. โย The UConn softball team defeated the Creighton Bluejays, 12-11 on Friday afternoon at Burrill Family Field. Head coach Laura Valentino picked up her 200thย career win as the Huskies improve to 14-5 in BIG EAST play and 24-24 overall this season.ย
Graduate Jessica Walter made her 14thย start of the season for the Huskies in the series opener.ย Walterย went 3.2 innings giving up five runs on seven hits with a pair of strikeouts.ย
Creighton scored the game's first run in the top of the 1stย inning, giving the Bluejays an early 1-0 lead.ย
UConn responded in the bottom of the 1stย inning, scoring four runs on four hits. Cat Petteys gave the Huskies the lead with a double to left center field, scoring Kaitlyn Kibling and Savannah Ring, making it 2-1. Two batters later, Kaitlyn Breslin knocked inย Petteysย with a single to center field, pushing the UConn lead to 3-1. Emma Willers followedย Breslinย with another single to center field, scoring Haley Coupal to extend the Huskies lead to 4-1.ย
Creighton trimmed into the UConn lead in the top of the 2ndย inning with a run to make it 4-2.ย
UConn's offense punched back in the bottom of the 2ndย inning, scoring two runs on a pair of hits.ย Petteysย drove in her third RBI of the game with another double, this one to right center field, scoringย Ringย all the way from first base. Later in the inning,ย Willersย broughtย Petteysย home with a single to center field, expanding the UConn lead to 6-2.ย
Creighton plated a pair of runs in the top of the 3rdย inning, bringing the Bluejays to within two runs at 6-4.ย
The Huskies once again had an answer for Creighton, scoring two runs in the bottom of the 3rdย inning to make it a four-run lead at 8-4.ย Ringย collected her third hit of the game with a single to right field, scoring Bella Cruz from second base.ย Petteysย followedย Ringย with her third consecutive double of the game, a gapper to right center field, scoringย Kiblingย from third base. This isย Pettey'sย second game this season with four runs batted in.ย
Creighton cut into UConn's lead in the top of the 4thย inning with a pair of runs to make it 8-6.ย
Freshman Caprice Bohmer came on in relief forย Walterย during the 4thย inning, making her 32ndย appearance of the season.ย Bohmerย went 1.2 innings, giving up three runs on four hits with a strikeout.ย
Creighton knotted the score at 8-8 in the top of the 5thย inning.ย
Sophomore Amber Bretton came on in relief forย Bohmerย during the 5thย inning, making her 17thย appearance this season.ย Brettonย went 1.2 innings giving up three runs on four hits, adding a strikeout, and earning her third win of the season.ย
UConn took the lead for good in the bottom of the 5thย inning, loading the bases forย Coupalย who delivered a two-out bases clearing double to right center field, plating all three runs to put the Huskies back on top at 11-8.ย
Creighton fought back once more to make it a one-run game in the top of the 6thย inning, 11-10.ย
Cruzย plated a key insurance run for the Huskies in the bottom of the 6thย inning, giving UConn a 12-10 lead.ย
Creighton did not go quietly in the top of the 7thย inning, scoring a run to make it 12-11, and put the potential tying run in scoring position.ย Walterย came on to get the final two outs for the Huskies, earning her ninth save of the season, tying the program record for saves in a season.ย ย
News and Notes
- Head coach Laura Valentino earned her 200thย career win in her 7thย season leading the program.ย
- Jessica Walter tied the single season saves record with her ninth save of the season.ย
- Cat Petteys collected her fifth three-hit game this season, recording her second four-RBI game of the year, giving her 12 multi-RBI games.ย Petteysย has recorded a hit in six consecutive games. Her three doubles are a career game high and a team game high this season.ย
- Savannah Ring recorded her fifth three-hit game of the season, giving her 15 multi-hit games on the year.ย
- Kaitlyn Kibling has reached base safely in 16 straight games.ย
- Haley Coupal recorded her seventh multi-RBI game this season. She has reached base safely in seven consecutive games.ย
- Kaitlyn Breslin has reached base safely in ten straight games.ย
- Emma Willers recorded her fifth multi-hit and eighth multi-RBI game in her rookie season.ย
- Bella Cruz recorded her third multi-hit game this season.ย
- UConn's 11 runs were the most they have scored in a game this season without recording a home run.ย
- UConn's defense did not commit an error for the 21stย time this season.ย
Up Next
Game two between UConn and Creighton is set for Saturday, April 25 at 4:00pm at Burrill Family Field. TICKETS
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Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bretton, Amber (3-0)
L: Landrie Harris (4-4)
S: Walter, Jessica (9)
Batting:
2B: Zoey Greenwood 1 ; Avery Barnard 1 ; Keegan Mayhue 1 ; Erika Perez 1 ; Ella Dalton 1
RBI: Zoey Greenwood 2 ; Avery Barnard 1 ; Kaelan Schultz 1 ; Keegan Mayhue 3 ; Erika Perez 1 ; Ella Dalton 2 ; Ashten Pierson 1
SH: Kaelan Schultz 1
SF: Avery Barnard 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Zoey Greenwood 1 ; Lily West 1 ; Kaelan Schultz 1 ; Tara Vandewater 2 ; Keegan Mayhue 1 ; Emma Bailey 1 ; Chiqui Vazquez 1 ; Ella Dalton 2 ; Ashten Pierson 1
SB: Zoey Greenwood 1 ; Ella Dalton 1 ; Ashten Pierson 2
HBP: Ella Dalton 1
Batting:
2B: Petteys, Cat 3 ; Coupal, Haley 1
RBI: Ring, Savannah 1 ; Petteys, Cat 4 ; Coupal, Haley 3 ; Breslin, Kaitlyn 1 ; Willers, Emma 2 ; Cruz, Bella 1
SH: Kibling , Kaitlyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kibling , Kaitlyn 2 ; Ring, Savannah 2 ; Petteys, Cat 3 ; Coupal, Haley 1 ; De Meo, Caylee 1 ; Lundquist, Isabella 1 ; Cruz, Bella 2
