KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The UConn softball team lost to the 7th ranked Tennessee Volunteers, 6-3 in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. UConn moves to 13-11 this season.
Graduate student Payton Kinney made her ninth start of the season in the circle for the Huskies. Kinney was sensational in the early innings, keeping the potent Tennessee lineup scoreless through four innings. The veteran pitcher went 4.2 innings giving up three runs on just two hits, adding three strikeouts.
Junior catcher Grace Jenkins opened the scoring in the top of the fifth inning, hitting her team leading seventh home run of the season, a solo shot down the right field line, giving UConn a 1-0 lead.
The Tennessee offense responded in the bottom half of the fifth inning, scoring three runs, propelling the Volunteers in front, 3-1.
Junior Hope Jenkins came on in relief for Kinney in the middle of the fifth inning. Jenkins went just 0.2 inning giving up one run on one hit, a solo home run.
UConn's offense punched right back in the top of the sixth inning, scoring two runs on back to back singles, tying the game at 3-3. Freshman infielder Cat Petteys got the rally started with a leadoff triple down the right field line, her second three-bagger of the season. Two batters later, sophomore outfielder Kaitlyn Breslin drove in her 13th run of the season with a single to center field, scoring Petteys from third base. Junior outfielder Kaitlyn Kibling followed with a single to left field, scoring Hope Jenkins from second base.
Tennessee once again had an answer in the bottom of the sixth inning, tacking on three more runs to put the game out of reach for the Huskies at 6-3.
Redshirt-sophomore Sydnee Koosh came on in relief for Jenkins during the sixth inning. Koosh finished the game out in the circle, going 0.2 inning giving up two runs on four hits with a pair of strikeouts.
News and Notes
- The UConn defense continued to make spectacular plays around the diamond, as the Huskies have not made an error in their last five consecutive games.
- The Huskies put a runner in scoring position in each of the first four innings. UConn left a total of nine runners on base.
- Grace Jenkins hit her team-leading seventh home run of the season. She recorded her seventh multi-hit game of the season with two extra base hits.
- Hope Jenkins recorded her fourth multi-hit game this season and reached base safely in all three of her at bats.
- Lexi Hastings extended her hitting streak to six straight games.
- Cat Petteys hit her team-leading second triple of the season.
- Hope Jenkins threw just eight pitches in the fifth and sixth innings.
- The UConn pitching staff combined for 25 strikeouts on the weekend.
Up Next
UConn returns to Storrs next weekend for their Home Opening weekend series against the Seton Hall Pirates from March 21-23. TICKETS
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