CONWAY, S.C. – The UConn softball team opened the second day at the Chanticleer Showdown with a shutout win over Bowling Green, 4-0. The Huskies had a late comeback fall short in game two to the host school, Coastal Carolina, 7-6. UConn moves to 10-7 overall this season. 

Game One

Junior Hope Jenkins (Folsom, Calif.) made her fifth start of the season in the circle for the Huskies in game one. Jenkins was dominant, tossing 6.0 scoreless innings, only giving up one hit, adding seven strikeouts. 

UConn's offense came out strong to start, scoring runs in each of the first three innings. Senior infielder Rosie Garcia (San Fernando, Calif.) opened the scoring for the Huskies in the top of the first inning with a two-out single to center field, scoring Lexi Hastings (Lynchburg, Va.) from third base. 

UConn doubled their lead in the second inning off the bat of junior infielder Savannah Ring (Wyckoff, N.J.). Ring hit her second double of the season, again coming with two-outs, scoring Kaitlyn Breslin (Hopkinton, Mass.) from second base, making it 2-0. 

UConn extended their lead to 4-0 in the third inning with Garcia hitting her first home run of the season, a solo shot to right field. Later in the inning, Breslin came through with a two-out single to left field, scoring Hope Jenkins from second base.

Jenkins protected the lead in the circle, tossing four one-two-three innings, shutting down the Bowling Green lineup.  

Freshman Amber Bretton came on in relief of Jenkins to close out the win in the bottom of the seventh inning, making her sixth appearance of the season. 

News and Notes

• The UConn pitching staff earned their third shutout of the season. Their one hit allowed was a game high. 
• Rosie Garcia recorded her fourth multi-RBI games this season. 
• Kaitlyn Breslin tallied her second multi-hit game this season. 
• Lexi Hastings extends her hitting streak to six straight games. 
• Cat Petteys worked a game high three walks.

Game Two

Redshirt-sophomore Sydnee Koosh (Canton, Ohio) made her sixth start of the season for the Huskies in game two. Koosh went 2.2 innings giving up five runs on two hits with one strikeout. 

Coastal opened the scoring in the third inning, scoring five runs. The Chanticleers continued to apply pressure on Husky pitching, scoring runs in the fourth and fifth innings, making it 7-0. 

Hope Jenkins came on in relief for Koosh in the third inning, making her second appearance of the day. Jenkins went 1.1 innings giving up two runs on three hits.

Amber Bretton relieved Jenkins in the fifth inning, her second appearance of the day. Bretton tossed 1.1 scoreless innings with one strikeout. 

UConn's offense came to life in the sixth inning, surging for six runs, making it a one-run ballgame, 7-6. The Huskies tallied five straight hits starting with back to back singles from Hastings and Higa. Junior catcher Grace Jenkins (Folsom, Calif.) jump started the rally with a single down the left field line, scoring Hastingsfrom third base. Rosie Garcia followed Jenkins with a double to left center, scoring Higa from second base. Hope Jenkins delivered the big hit with a three-run homer to right field, her fourth long ball of the season. A batter later, Kaitlyn Breslin hit a no doubt about it home run to left center, her second of the season, pulling the Huskies to within a run. UConn's six runs are the most the Huskies have scored in an inning this season.

Graduate student Payton Kinney (Bradenton, Fla.) came on in relief for Bretton in the middle of the sixth inning. Kinney retired both batters she faced. 

News and Notes

• UConn's six runs in the sixth inning are the most runs the Huskies have scored in an inning this season.
• Kaitlyn Breslin recorded an RBI in her third straight game. 
• Rosie Garcia had back to back multi-hit games. 
• The UConn defense did not commit an error, their fourth error free game this season. 
• UConn hit into a season high two double plays

Up Next

UConn will close out the Chanticleer Showdown on Sunday, March 2 as the Huskies will play Coastal Carolina at 12:30pm. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.

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