ELON, N.C. – The UConn softball team fell to the Ohio State Buckeyes, 3-1 on Sunday afternoon at the Elon Softball Classic. UConn finishes the weekend at 1-3 to open the 2025 season.
Redshirt-sophomore Sydnee Koosh (Canton, Ohio) earned her second start of the season in the circle for the Huskies. She went 4.0 innings, giving up two runs on just two hits, recording three strikeouts.
Ohio State jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a two-run home run.
Koosh settled in after giving up the long ball in the first inning, tossing three straight scoreless innings for the Huskies.
Graduate pitcher Payton Kinney (Bradenton, Fla.) made her first appearance of the season for the Huskies, coming on in relief for Koosh in the fifth inning.
Ohio State added to their lead in the fifth inning on a throwing error, UConn's lone error of the ballgame, making it 3-0 Buckeyes.
UConn did not go quietly, as junior infielder Kaiea Higa drove in the Huskies only run of the game on a single to right field, scoring Lexi Hastings (Lynchburg, Va.) from second base, making it a two-run game. Higa now has five RBI through four games this season.
UConn continued to battle but could not find a key hit to tie the game.
News and Notes
- UConn has three players with hits in each of the first four games this season: Lexi Hastings, Grace Jenkins, Kaiea Higa.
- Hastings has now reached base in 24 consecutive games dating to last season.
Up Next
UConn heads to Florida next weekend for the JU/UNF Invitational. The Huskies will begin the tournament on Friday, February 14 with matchups against Middle Tennessee and North Florida. FULL SCHEDULE
Latest Women's Softball
- Huskies Beat Providence, Advance to the BIG EAST Tournament SemifinalVILLANOVA, P.a. – The No. 2 seed UConn softball team won their opening round game in the 2025 BIG EAST Tournament on Thursday afternoon, defeating the Providence Friars, 5-4 at the Villanova Softball Complex. Senior outfielder Lexi Hastings delivered a go-ahead ribbie single with two out in the bottom of the sixth, propelling the Huskies past the Friars.
- UConn Opens BIG EAST Tournament run Thursday afternoon as the No. 2 SeedSTORRS, Conn. – The UConn softball team begins its run at the 2025 BIG EAST Tournament on Thursday, May 8. The two-seeded Huskies will take on either the third-seed Villanova Wildcats or six-seed Providence Friars at the Villanova Softball Complex. The game is scheduled to begin at 3:00pm and will be streamed on the BIG EAST Digital Network.
- Huskies Place Seven on All-BIG EAST TeamsNEW YORK – Seven softball student-athletes have earned BIG EAST All-Conference honors, announced by the league on Tuesday afternoon. The Huskies earned a league best, five first team selections in Kaitlyn Breslin, Rosie Garcia, Grace Jenkins, Payton Kinney, and Cat Petteys. UConn received two second team selections in Lexi Hastings, and Hope Jenkins.
- Cat Petteys Wins BIG EAST Freshman of the YearNEW YORK – UConn stellar freshman shortstop Cat Petteys has been tabbed as the 2025 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, becoming the sixth player in program history to receive the distinguished award. Shejoins Grace Jenkins, and Jana Sanden as the third player under head coach Laura Valentino to receive this honor.
- Grace Jenkins Named BIG EAST Player of the YearNEW YORK – UConn junior standout catcher Grace Jenkins has been named as the 2025 BIG EAST Player of the Year, becoming the sixth player in program history to earn the prestigious award. She joins Lexi Hastings (2024) as the second player under head coach Laura Valentino to receive this honor.
- Huskies Fall in Regular Season finaleSTORRS, Conn. – The UConn softball team fell to the St. John's Red Storm in extra innings, 6-5 on Sunday afternoon at Burrill Family Field. UConn finishes the regular season with a 32-17 record, locking up the No. 2 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament with a 18-6 conference record.
