STORRS, Conn. – The UConn softball team shutout the St. John's Red Storm in Friday's series opener, 3-0 at Burrill Family Field. Payton Kinney tossed a complete game shutout in the circle, giving the Huskies the win in game one.
Graduate student Payton Kinney made her 21st start of the season in the circle for the Huskies. Kinney was sensational throughout, holding a potent St. John's lineup scoreless, as she gave up only four hits, adding seven strikeouts. For Kinney, this is her fourth complete game of the season. She moves to 12-3 this season.
The game was a pitcher's duel through the first three innings as both teams struggled to generate offense against Kinney and Ana Serafinko of St. John's.
UConn broke the deadlock in the fourth inning, scoring two runs on three hits. Senior outfielder Lexi Hastings generated the Huskies first run as she tallied the first hit of the game for UConn. Hastings stole second base, putting herself in scoring position. Later in the inning, Hastings took off to third base, causing a Red Storm error that sent the ball into left field, allowing Hastings to score on the throw from third base. Freshman infielder Cat Petteys doubled the Huskies lead in the fourth, with a bloop single over the first baseman's head, scoring Grace Jenkins from second base.
UConn added a key insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning off the bat of junior infielder Kaiea Higa as she legged out her second triple of the season, scoring Petteys from third base, giving the Huskies a 3-0 lead.
Kinney closed the door on the Johnnies offense retiring 18 of the last 22 batters she faced from the second inning on.
News and Notes
- Payton Kinney tossed her third complete game shutout of the season, picking up a staff high 12th win this season.
- The UConn pitching staff picks up their ninth shutout of the season.
- Cat Petteys recorded her 17th multi-hit game this season. Petteys has multi-hit games in five of her last seven games.
- Grace Jenkins extended her reached base streak to 25 straight games.
- Lexi Hastings extended her reached base streak to 20 straight games.
- Kaitlyn Breslin extended her hitting streak to six straight games. She has reached base safely in 14 straight games.
Up Next
Game two of the series with St. John's is scheduled for Saturday, May 3 at 2:00pm. UConn will honor two seniors after the conclusion of the game. Get your tickets at UConnTickets.com.
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