ELON, N.C. – The UConn softball team lost in six innings to the UNC Greensboro Spartans, 15-6 on Saturday afternoon at the Elon Softball Classic. The Huskies move to 1-2 overall through the first two days of the 2025 season.
Junior Hope Jenkins (Folsom, Calif.) made her second start of the season in the circle for the Huskies. She went 3.0 innings giving up three runs on three hits, adding four strikeouts.
UNC Greensboro jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a two run home run.
UConn got on the board in the bottom of the first inning as junior infielder Kaiea Higa (Maple Valley, Wash.) delivered a clutch two out single, scoring Lexi Hastings (Lynchburg, Va.) from third base, making it 2-1.
The Huskies took their only lead of the game in the bottom of the second inning, scoring two runs on three hits, making it 3-2. Kaitlyn Breslin (Hopkinton, Mass.) came around to score the game tying run all the way from first base after a fielding error by the Spartans on a ball put in play by Kaitlyn Kibling (LaFayette, N.Y.). Kibling later came around to score on an infield single from Grace Jenkins (Folsom, Calif.).
UNC Greensboro tied the game at three in the third inning, but Jenkins was able to limit the damage, stranding a pair of runners.
Redshirt-sophomore Sydnee Koosh (Canton, Ohio) came on in relief for Jenkins, making her second appearance of the season in the circle. Koosh only went 0.2 innings, surrendering five runs on only one hit.
Freshman Amber Bretton relieved Koosh in the middle of the fourth. Bretton went 1.1 innings, giving up five runs on five hits, adding one strikeout.
UNC Greensboro broke the game open in the fourth inning as the Spartans scored six runs, four coming on one swing with a grand slam, putting the Huskies down, 9-3.
UConn began chipping away at the deficit, scoring a run in the bottom of the fourth. Rosie Garcia managed to reach base safely on a fielding error by the Spartans, allowing Breslin to score from third base, making it 9-4.
The Huskies continued to chip away in the fifth inning, scoring two runs. Hope Jenkins led off the inning, crushing a solo home run over the left field fence, her first of the season. Later in the inning, UConn loaded up the bases for the top of the order. Hastings brought home Cat Petteys (Vestal, N.Y.) on a ground out to shortstop, making it 9-6.
UNC Greensboro pulled away in the sixth inning, scoring six runs, giving the Spartans their largest lead of the game, 15-6 and putting the game into run-rule territory.
Freshman Stella Kiemele came on in relief for Bretton in the sixth inning. She tossed 1.0 inning giving up two runs on two hits.
News and Notes
- Junior infielder Kaiea Higa has delivered RBI's in each of her first three games as a Husky.
- Junior catcher Grace Jenkins has knocked in five RBI in her first three games this season.
- Sophomore outfielder Kaitlyn Breslin recorded her first multi-hit game with a pair of singles up the middle.
- UConn left eight runners on base.
Up Next
UConn will close out the Elon Softball Classic on Sunday, February 9 as the Huskies matchup with the Ohio State Buckeyes. First pitch is set for 12:00pm EST.
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