Softball Falls in BIG EAST Tournament
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The UConn Huskies were eliminated from the BIG EAST Tournament on Friday, falling to Villanova, 4-1 in game one and 10-6 in game two against Creighton.
Game One:
Hallie Siems got the start in game one against Villanova. Siems went one inning giving up three runs on only one hit with a strikeout. Payton Kinney would come on in relief for Siems in the second inning as the senior tossed one inning, giving up one run on one hit, adding a strikeout.
Villanova started out strong, scoring all four of their runs in the first two innings.
Meghan O'Neil relieved Kinney in the circle in the third inning. O'Neil went on to finish out the game in the circle, keeping the Wildcat bats quiet as she tossed 4.0 scoreless innings only giving up one hit with five strikeouts.
UConn scored their only run of the game in the sixth inning off the bat of the BIG EAST Player of the Year, Lexi Hastings as she hit an infield single, allowing Kaitlyn Kibling to score from third base.
The Huskies continued to fight but could not come up with key hits as they left ten runners on base.
Game Two:
Siems got the nod again in the nightcap against Creighton. She went 3.0 innings giving up five runs on three hits with four strikeouts.
UConn jumped out to an early lead in the first inning off the bat of Hope Jenkins. The sophomore hit a three run home run to left field, her eighth of the year, giving the Huskies an early 3-0 lead.
UConn extended the lead in the second inning as Rosie Garcia delivered a single to left field, scoring Hastings from second base.
Creighton took a 5-4 lead in the third inning with four runs coming off a grand slam from the Bluejays.
UConn responded right away with two runs in the fourth inning to regain the lead, 6-5. Garcia again came through, this time with a double down the right field line, scoring Grace Jenkins from second base. Jana Sanden followed Garcia with a double to right center field, scoring Garcia from second and putting the Huskies back in front.
Payton Kinney came on in relief for Siems in the fourth inning. Kinney went 2.2 innings giving up five runs on six hits with a pair of strikeouts.
Creighton tied the game at six in the fifth inning on a single. The Bluejays went on to score four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead for good, 10-6.
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