PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The UConn softball team dominated the Providence Friars in the series finale, 16-0. UConn's offense exploded for ten runs in the seventh inning, pushing the Huskies to their largest margin of victory this season. UConn moves to 11-4 in BIG EAST play and 24-14 overall this season.
Payton Kinney made her 16th start of the season in the circle for the Huskies. Kinney was sensational tossing 5.0 scoreless innings, only giving up two hits with six strikeouts.
UConn jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs on a pair of two-out hits in the top of the second inning. Senior outfielder Lexi Hastings hit her team leading third triple this season, scoring Haley Coupal and Heidi Barber. Junior catcher Grace Jenkins followed Hastings with her 13th home run of the season, a two-run shot to right center, giving the Huskies a 4-0 lead. Jenkins 13th homer mark ties the program record for home runs in a single season (Amy Vaughan, 2012).
Kinney shut down the Friars lineup in the middle innings, retiring eleven straight batters from the second to fifth innings.
UConn manufactured another run in the top of the fifth inning on back to back doubles. Sophomore outfielder Kaitlyn Breslin led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Junior Hope Jenkins knocked in Breslin with a double to left center, extending the Huskies lead to 5-0.
Junior Hope Jenkins came on in relief for Kinney in the sixth inning, making her 24th appearance of the season for the Huskies. Jenkins closed out the win in the circle, securing UConn's seventh shutout win of the season. She did not give up a hit, adding a strikeout to her final line.
Grace Jenkins once again made a dent on the scoreboard in the sixth inning, hitting a solo shot to right, her second home run of the game, and 14th on the year, breaking the single season home run program record (Amy Vaughan, 2012).
With a 6-0 lead heading to the seventh inning, UConn's offense kept their foot on the gas pedal, erupting for ten runs on seven hits, sending 13 batters to the plate. Breslin sparked the big inning with a leadoff home run to center field, her 13th of the season, tying the previous single season home run record before today. A batter later, freshman infielder Cat Petteys went deep to left field, her seventh homer of the season.
Later in the inning, Hastings drove in her third RBI of the game with a single to left field, scoring Coupal from second base, putting UConn in double digits for the seventh time this season, 10-0. Grace Jenkins followed Hastings with a double to center field, knocking in her fourth RBI of the game in Savannah Ring. The double marks Jenkins 50th of her career, tying the career doubles program record (Brianna Marcelino, 2018-22). This is the fourth 4+ RBI game for Jenkins this season.
UConn kept the hit parade going with Breslin delivering a RBI single to left field, scoring Hastings from third base, giving Breslin her second ribbie of the inning.
Petteys capped off the Huskies huge inning at the plate, with her first career grand slam, her second home run of the inning, tying a NCAA record for home runs in one inning, giving the rookie shortstop a career high six RBI in the game.
News and Notes
- Grace Jenkins hit her 13th and 14th home runs of the season, breaking the single season program record from home runs in a season (Amy Vaughan, 2012).
- Cat Petteys drove in a career high six RBI, recording her first career multi-home run game. Her two home runs in the seventh inning ties a NCAA single game record.
- UConn has 15+ hits in back to back games for the first time this season. This is the 17th time this season UConn has had 10+ hits in a game.
- Payton Kinney and Hope Jenkins combined to limit Providence to just two hits.
- Grace Jenkins recorded her third four-hit game this season and 13th multi-RBI game this season. This is the second multi-HR game in Jenkins career.
- Lexi Hastings recorded her fifth three-hit game, and her seventh multi-RBI game this season.
- Kaitlyn Breslin recorded her fifth three-hit game and tenth multi-RBI game this season.
- UConn hit five home runs in back to back games, the third time this season they have hit 5+ homers in a game.
Up Next
UConn will welcome the Fairfield Stag to Storrs on Wednesday, April 16 for a midweek out of conference matchup. First pitch is set for 6:00pm. Get your tickets at UConnTickets.com.
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