UConn looks to bounce back from loss to UMass this weekend against Memphis, who are 20-17 and 2-4 in The American (Photo by Brandon Barzola/The Daily Campus)
On Tuesday, the UConn softball team put up 28 runs in the double-header versus UHart, and between those two games, the Huskies had 40 baserunners. UConn was on the other side of that by surrendering 30 baserunners in the 13-3 loss to UMass.
The steady flow of ducks on the pond were the eventual downfall for UConn (13-19, 2-4 The American). LHP Katie Koshes was able to keep the Huskies in the fight for the first four innings, giving up just four runs. However, the staff gave up three runs in each of the last three innings to put the game away.
Coming into this start, Koshes had given up 49 hits in 60.2 innings this season, or just under one per 1.1 innings pitched. Across 4.2 innings Wednesday, she gave up 13 hits and 12 of those were singles. Overall, UConn pitching allowed 17 singles and walked 10 batters.
Of the 49 batters that came to the plate for UMass, just 10 hit with no one on the entire game. Only three of those batters did not lead off the inning. UMass was able to put the lead runner on in six out of the seven innings. The only leadoff hitter to get out was Jackie Kelley in the fifth inning. In the second inning, UMass’ Caroline Videtto came up with Alyssa Lyon on before Lyon was caught stealing, so she also batted with no one on after the failed stealing attempt.
UConn was able to limit the damage done by walking batters, allowing just three of the ten to come around and score.
In UConn’s recent loss to UMass Lowell, they gave up 11 singles and five of the eight runs they gave up were as a result of base knocks and walks. Of the eight hits they surrendered versus UCF on March 24, seven were singles; the two runs they gave up in the bottom of the seventh were because of one-baggers.
Despite the damage control in the early innings, baserunners piled up to a hurt a team. It is difficult to stay in a game when there are almost always runners to worry about.
UConn will look to bounce back from Wednesday’s loss this weekend versus Memphis, who are 20-17 and 2-4 in The American. The games start Friday, with one on Saturday and Sunday as well.
Mike Mavredakis is a campus correspondent for the Daily Campus. He can be reached via email at michael.quinn-mavredakis@uconn.edu.
