STORRS, Conn. – The UConn softball team (1-3) heads to the sunshine state this weekend, for the JU/UNF Invitational in Jacksonville, Florida. UConn will start the weekend on February 14 with a pair of matchups beginning at 9:00am EST. The Huskies will play a total of five games on the weekend, against Middle Tennessee (2x), North Florida, Jacksonville and Cleveland State.
UConn is coming off their opening weekend slate at the Elon Softball Classic where the Huskies went 1-3 to begin the 2025 season.
UConn's offense has had a strong start to the 2025 campaign, scoring 29 runs through their first four games. This is the most runs the Huskies have scored in an opening weekend tournament in Head Coach Laura Valentino's tenure. As a team, UConn has a .315 batting average and have four players batting over .300. Junior catcher Grace Jenkins has had a hot start to her 2025 campaign, posting a slash line of .538/1.154/.647, adding two home runs and five runs batted in. Jenkins was named to the first BIG EAST weekly Honor Roll of the season for her performance at the Elon Softball Classic.
Scouting the Field:
Middle Tennessee
Middle Tennessee (3-2) began their 2025 season last weekend at the Spring Games in Leesburg, Florida. The Blue Raiders picked up wins over Rutgers, Cleveland State, and Radford. Middle Tennessee is coached by Jeff Breeden in his 13th season. The Blue Raiders are led by freshman infielder Jana Want. This will be the first all-time matchup between the two programs.
North Florida
North Florida (4-2) kicked off their season with a loss at No. 2 Florida. The Ospreys then headed to River City Leadoff in Jacksonville, Florida where they went 4-1, posting wins over Western Carolina (3x), and Jacksonville State. North Florida is coached by Jeff Conrad in his 10th season. The Ospreys are led by senior utility Lauren Brock. UConn is 2-1 all-time against North Florida. The last time these two programs met was back in 2016, with the Huskies coming out on top, 4-0 (Feb. 14, 2016).
Jacksonville
Jacksonville (2-4) opened their season at the River City Leadoff in Jacksonville, Florida. The Dolphins recorded wins over Western Carolina, and Jacksonville State. Jacksonville is coached by Erica Ayers in her 10th season. The Dolphins are led by senior outfielder, Haley Fox. The all-time series is knotted up at 2-2. The Huskies won the last matchup back in 2018, 7-0 (Feb. 10, 2018).
Cleveland State
Cleveland State (1-4) began their season at the Spring Games in Leesburg, Florida. Their lone win of the weekend came against Radford. The Vikings are coached by Amy Kyler in her 7th season. Cleveland State is led by junior Emma Gilkerson. UConn leads the all-time series 3-1. These two programs met three times a season ago at the Rainbow Wahine Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii. UConn won all three games on the weekend against the Vikings.
Players Mentioned
- Catcher
- 5' 7"
- Junior
Players Mentioned
- 5' 7"
- Junior
- Catcher
Latest Women's Softball
- Huskies Shutout Alabama State in Six InningsMACON, Ga. – The UConn softball team defeated Alabama State, 8-0 in six innings on Saturday night at the Mercer Softball Invitational. UConn moves to 3-0 on the weekend and 7-4 overall this season.
- Huskies Best Jacksonville and Middle TennesseeMACON, Ga. – The UConn softball team opened the Mercer Softball Invitational on Friday afternoon with a pair of wins. The Huskies shutout Jacksonville in game one, 7-0. UConn then beat Middle Tennessee, 6-1, behind a stellar pitching performance from Sydnee Koosh. UConn moves to 6-4 overall this season.
- Huskies Head to Mercer This WeekendSTORRS, Conn. – The UConn softball team (4-4) heads to Mercer University this weekend for the MUSB Invitational. UConn will begin the weekend on Friday, February 21 with a pair of matchups beginning at 1:30pm against Jacksonville. The Huskies will play a total of five games on the weekend, against Jacksonville, Middle Tennessee, Alabama State (2x), and Mercer.
- Softball Announces Updates to Upcoming ScheduleSTORRS, Conn. – The UConn softball program has announced a change to their schedule for this upcoming weekend. Due to anticipated weather concerns in the Charlottesville area, the Huskies will no longer play in the Rawlings Classic at the University of Virginia. UConn will instead play in the MUSB Invitational hosted by Mercer University this weekend from February 21-23.
- Softball Schedule UpdateJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The UConn softball team's scheduled game against Cleveland State on Sunday, February 16 has been canceled.
- Huskies Split on Day Two of JU/UNF InvitationalJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The UConn softball team started out their Saturday slate at the JU/UNF Invitational with a 4-3 win over Middle Tennessee in extra innings. Grace Jenkins delivered a big go-ahead two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning, propelling the Huskies past the Blue Raiders. The Huskies fell in game two to Jacksonville, 7-1. UConn moves to 3-1 on the weekend and 4-4 overall this season.
