NEW YORK – Seven softball student-athletes have earned BIG EAST All-Conference honors, announced by the league on Tuesday afternoon. The Huskies earned a league best, five first team selections in Kaitlyn Breslin, Rosie Garcia, Grace Jenkins, Payton Kinney, and Cat Petteys. UConn received two second team selections in Lexi Hastings, and Hope Jenkins.
Seven honorees mark the fourth year in a row UConn has earned four or more All-Conference selections under head coach Laura Valentino. The seven All-Conference selections were a conference high, just one shy of the program record (8 selections in 1994).
Sophomore outfielder Kaityln Breslin (Hopkinton, Mass.) earns her first All-BIG EAST nod of her career, after a breakout sophomore campaign. Breslin was sensational in conference play for the Huskies, hitting .462, recording 36 hits, 11 home runs, and 23 runs scored. Her 36 RBI in conference games leads the BIG EAST. This season, Breslin has started in 48 of UConn's 49 games in right field, recording 16 home runs with 51 runs batted in, and 35 runs scored.
Senior infielder Rosie Garcia (San Fernando, Calif.) picks up All-BIG EAST First team honors for the second consecutive year. The Huskies team captain has put together a stellar campaign this season, posting a .353 batting average across her 46 games played with 49 hits, 11 doubles, 5 home runs, and 33 RBI. Garcia has locked down the hot corner at third base all season, serving as the primary third baseman in all of her four years in Storrs. She made just five errors across her 22 conference games played this season.
Junior catcher Grace Jenkins (Folsom, Calif.) earns her first career nod on the All-BIG EAST First Team. This is her third consecutive All-BIG EAST honors so far through her impressive three-year career thus far. Jenkins has started in all 49 games for the Huskies this season, serving as team captain. She maintained a .416 batting average over 161 at bats. Her 19 home runs, 19 doubles, 64 RBI, and .888 slugging percentage were all conference-leading statistics.
Graduate student Payton Kinney (Bradenton, Fla.) picks up her second All-BIG EAST First Team honors, last earning the honor last in 2023. Kinney has served as the Huskies team captain and ace in the circle this season, leading the staff in appearances (31), wins (12), era (2.39), inning pitched (117.0), and strikeouts (84). In BIG EAST play, she has been key to the Huskies success, earning 10 of her 12 wins in conference games, leading the league in opposing batting average at .207 against her.
Freshman infielder Cat Petteys (Vestal, N.Y.) has had an impressive rookie season in Storrs, playing a pivotal role in UConn's success this season. Petteys was one of the top performers in conference action this season, maintaining a .427 batting average, while slugging ten home runs and driving in 31 runs batted in. This season, she has started in 48 of UConn's 49 games at shortstop, boasting a .416 batting average, leading all freshmen in the conference this season with 12 home runs, 60 hits, 42 RBI, and a .506 on-base percentage.
The 2024 BIG EAST Player of the Year, Lexi Hastings (Lynchburg, Va.) becomes the first player in program history to earn All-BIG EAST honors in each of her four seasons at UConn, earning second team honors this year (Second team – 2022, First team – 2023 & 2024). Hastings, a team captain this season has been a tone setter at the top of the Huskies lineup all season long, posting a .362 batting average with 64 hits, 62 runs scored, 16 extra base hits, and a .422 on-base percentage. Her 29 stolen bases this season ranks second in the BIG EAST.
Junior utility Hope Jenkins (Folsom, Calif.) earns her second consecutive All-BIG EAST nod, as she picked up second team honors in 2024. Jenkins serves as a dual threat in the Huskies lineup, as a pitcher and a hitter. This season in the circle, she has made 30 appearances, tossing 100.1 innings with 74 strikeouts, and a 3.98 era, posting an 11-3 record. Her 3.44 era in BIG EAST play, ranks seventh amongst conference pitchers. At the plate, Jenkins is hitting 2.69 with 32 hits, 9 doubles, 5 home runs, and 22 RBI.
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Players Mentioned
- Outfield
- 6' 0"
- Sophomore
- Infield
- Senior
- Outfield
- Senior
- Catcher
- 5' 7"
- Junior
- Pitcher
- 5' 9"
- Junior
- Pitcher
- 5' 7"
- Graduate Student
- Infield
- 5' 9"
- Freshman
Players Mentioned
- 6' 0"
- Sophomore
- Outfield
- Senior
- Infield
- Senior
- Outfield
- 5' 7"
- Junior
- Catcher
- 5' 9"
- Junior
- Pitcher
- 5' 7"
- Graduate Student
- Pitcher
- 5' 9"
- Freshman
- Infield
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