Softball welcomes first place Villanova to Storrs for three game series

STORRS, Conn. – UConn softball closes out their home slate this weekend at Burrill Family Field, as they host the Villanova Wildcats for a three game series in Storrs. The series will start on Friday, April 26 at 3:00pm. TICKETS

UConn (26-20) is coming into the weekend on a three game winning streak and winners in seven out of their last nine games. The Huskies currently sit in second place in the BIG EAST standings at 12-6, four games behind first place Villanova (16-2). 

In this nine game stretch, the Huskies are outscoring their opponents 42-21, scoring more than four runs in six out the nine games. Four Huskies hold over a .300 batting average in this stretch in Lexi Hastings (.464), Grace Jenkins (.429), Rosie Garcia (.364), and Jana Sanden (.345). Hastings has been a hit machine at the top of the UConn lineup, holding an eleven game on base streak going into the weekend. The junior outfielder has 20 multi-hit games this season, leading the Huskies in batting average (.389), hits (56), runs (41), on base percentage (.451), and slugging percentage (.597). Hastings has been named to the BIG EAST honor roll the past three weeks in a row. 

UConn's pitching staff has been dominant in this nine game stretch holding opposing batters to a .192 batting average as a staff. Payton Kinney has led the pitching staff in this stretch holding a staff high 0.64 era in 22.0 innings pitched across five appearances. The senior has been lights out in the circle the past two weeks, with 32 strikeouts only giving up two runs and five hits across 81 batters faced. Kinney was named to the BIG EAST honor roll two times in the past three weeks. 

Villanova (25-19) comes into the weekend winners in six of their last eight games. The Wildcats have a dynamic lineup with five hitters hitting over .300 and six players with at least five home runs. Villanova possesses a deep pitching staff with four pitcher's that have all thrown over 50 innings this season. The Wildcats ended UConn's season in the BIG EAST Tournament a year ago. The Huskies swept Villanova during the regular season in the 2023 campaign. UConn leads the all-time series 48-15. 

Game one of the series is set for Friday, April 26 at 3:00pm. Game two will be on Saturday, April 27 at 6:00pm. The series finale will be on Sunday, April 28 at 2:00pm. Saturday's game will be televised on FS1 while Friday and Sunday's games will be streamed on FloSoftball.

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