VILLANOVA, Pa. – The UConn softball team secured the programs 8th BIG EAST tournament championship, and first since 2001 on Saturday afternoon as the No. 2 seeded Huskies defeated the No. 4 seeded Creighton Bluejays, 18-4 in a five inning run rule victory. UConn punches their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001.
Payton Kinney made her third straight start in the circle in the BIG EAST tournament for the Huskies, earning her 26th start of the season. Kinney picked up her 15th win of the season, going 5.0 innings, giving up two earned runs on six hits, adding a pair of strikeouts. Kinney was named the BIG EAST tournament Most Outstanding Player, as the veteran right hander pitched 16 of UConn's 18 innings at the tournament.
The UConn offense was the story in this one, as the Huskies set a new BIG EAST record for runs in a championship game, scoring 18 across the second and third innings.
UConn hung a 12 spot on the board in the second inning, sending 16 batters to the plate in the inning, giving the Huskies a commanding 12-0 lead early. The Huskies loaded the bases with only one out, kick starting the rally. Savannah Ring worked a seven-pitch walk, forcing Kaitlyn Breslin to score from third base, opening the scoring for the Huskies.
Lexi Hastings followed Ring with a double to right field, scoring a pair of runs in Haley Coupal and Kaitlyn Kibling. UConn once again loaded the bases for the middle of the order to do damage.
Kaiea Higa scored another pair of runs with a single to center field, scoring Ring and Hastings. The Huskies capitalized on a Creighton throwing error that scored two more runs in Grace Jenkins and Higa.
Later in the inning, Rosie Garcia scored on a wild pitch, making it 8-0. Haley Coupal continued her recent hot hitting at the plate, driving in two more runs with a single, scoring Cat Petteys and Breslin.
Ring drove in her second RBI of the inning with a ground out to shortstop, scoring Coupal.
Hastings capped off the Huskies big inning with an RBI infield single, her third ribbie of the inning, scoring Kibling from third base.
UConn kept their foot on the gas, pushing across six more runs in the third inning, extending the Huskies lead to 18-0. UConn once again loaded the bases, setting the stage for the big inning. Kibling delivered a double to right field, scoring Garcia and Petteys. Ring followed with another double to right center, scoring Coupal and Kibling, marking a record 16 runs scored for the Huskies, the most ever in the BIG EAST tournament game.
Later in the inning, the BIG EAST Player of the Year, Grace Jenkins got in on the hit parade, knocking in Ring with a single to center field. Higa drove in her third RBI of the game with a single to right field, scoring Jenkins.
Creighton avoided the shutout, scoring three runs in the fourth inning and one in the fifth inning, but the deficit proved to be too large for the Bluejays as the Huskies run ruled Creighton for the second consecutive game at the BIG EAST tournament.
News and Notes
- Payton Kinney was named the 2025 BIG EAST tournament Most Outstanding Player. Kinneybecomes the sixth player in program history to receive the coveted award.
- Lexi Hastings, Grace Jenkins, Payton Kinney, and Cat Petteys were named to the All-Tournament team.
- UConn set a new BIG EAST tournament record, scoring the most runs in a tournament game. All nine Husky hitters logged hits.
- UConn scored their most runs in an inning, scoring 12 in the second.
- Savannah Ring led all Huskies with four RBI in the game, her third four ribbie game this season. Ring has seven multi-RBI games this season.
- Haley Coupal recorded three straight multi-hit games at the BIG EAST tournament. Coupal finishes her tournament with five RBI, and seven runs scored, posting a .600 batting average.
- Lexi Hastings recorded her team leading 19th multi-hit game this season. Hastings knocked in three RBI, giving her ten multi-RBI games this season.
- Kaiea Higa recorded back to back multi-hit games, giving her 16 this season. Higa drove in three RBI, her 10th multi-RBI game this season.
- This is the most runs UConn has scored in a game this season without a home run.
Up Next
UConn will await to hear their name get called on Selection Sunday on May 11. The show is scheduled to begin at 7:00pm on ESPN2.
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