Huskies Secure First NCAA Tournament Win Since 2001, Advance in Loser’s Bracket

Saturday, May 16

College Station, TX

5:30 PM

University of Connecticut

32-17

McNeese State

40-22

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
UConn	0	0	0	3	0	0	2	5	6	2
McNeese	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	0

Photo by: Will Huffman

Huskies Secure First NCAA Tournament Win Since 2001, Advance in Loser’s Bracket

5/16/2026 11:07:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Facing elimination from the College Station Regional, the UConn softball team defeated the McNeese State Cowgirls, 5-1 on Saturday afternoon, earning the program's first NCAA Tournament win since 2001. The Huskies advance in the loser's bracket and will play Texas A&M for a chance to continue their season at 9:30pm EST.

Graduate Jessica Walter got the nod with UConn's season on the line, making her 19^th start of the season for the Huskies. Walter was sensational in the circle, limiting the Cowgirls to just one hit in the game. The Delaware native went the distance, tossing her third complete game of the season.

The game was scoreless through the first three innings, with both teams stranding a total of four runners on base.

UConn's offense broke the deadlock in the top of the 4^th inning, scoring three runs to put the Huskies in front. The BIG EAST Player of the Year Cat Petteys made program history, leading off the inning with her 20^th home run of the season, marking her 35^th career home run, breaking the previous UConn career home runs record (34 by Micah Truax, 2006-09).

Later in the inning, Bella Cruz delivered a two-out double, scoring pinch runner Isabella Lundquist and Kaitlyn Kibling, extending the Huskies lead to 3-0.

Walter continued to keep the Cowgirl offense off the board, working in and out of trouble, stranding three runners on base from the 3^rd to 5^th innings.

McNeese broke up Walter's no-hit bid in the bottom of the 6^th inning with a solo home run, trimming into UConn's lead, 3-1.

Petteys struck pay dirt once again in the top of the 7^th inning, launching her second home run of the game, adding two key insurance runs to make it 5-1. This marks Petteys fourth multi-homer game of the season, giving her 21 homers in her sophomore campaign, which ties the single season program record.

McNeese continued to battle, loading the bases in the bottom of the 7^th inning, but Walter managed to shut the door on the Cowgirls, keeping UConn's season alive.

News and Notes

This is the first NCAA Tournament win for UConn since 2001 (May 17 vs. Bethune-Cookman, 2-1).
Jessica Walter tossed her third complete game of the season, throwing a season high 144 pitches. She left ten runners on base, earning her ninth win this season.
In just her 112^th career game, sophomore Cat Petteys broke the program record for career home runs with the 35^thof her young career. She recorded her fourth multi-home run game of the season, giving her 21 homers this season, tying the single season program record. She has reached base safely in 17 straight games.
Bella Cruz recorded her third multi-RBI game of the season.
UConn had five extra base hits.

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