UConn Softball takes home a 2-1 win against Quinnipiac University. This leaves them at 20-27 for the season. (Photo by Brandon Barzola/The Daily Campus)
UConn pulled out a gutsy win over in-state rival Quinnipiac University 2-1 Tuesday afternoon after 11 innings of play.
The Huskies (20-27) started Jill Stockley, who threw 3.1 innings, giving up just one run on three hits. She also walked one and struck out just as many. She gave up her loan run of the game in the fourth off an RBI double by Alexis Otero.
Reliever Katie Koshes got UConn out of multiple dangerous situations to keep the score down. When she came in during the fourth, she pitched her way out of a bases-loaded, one out situation to keep the score at 1-0.
In the sixth, Quinnipiac (16-30) starting pitcher Kendall Brundrett began to lose control. After walking Carli Cutler with one out, Alexis Lemus reached on a fielder’s choice that got pinch runner Aziah James out at second. Lemus then reached second, third and eventually scored one three different wild pitches, evening the score at 1-1.
In the seventh, Koshes gave up a leadoff double, but was able to pitch her way out of it unscathed. In the eighth she gave up a leadoff triple, but was once again able to get out of it without giving up any runs by striking out back-to-back batters and retiring the side with a fly-ball to right.
“She (Koshes) threw lights out. She did a really nice job spinning the ball,” head coach Jen McIntyre said.
UConn had a golden opportunity to end the game thanks to a leadoff double by Olivia Sappington. Her opposite-field hit had enough carry to get over the left fielder’s glove, but landed just short of the fence. Kiwi McDaniel then delivered a sacrifice bunt to get pinch runner Carissa Brizzi to third with just one out. The next batter, Cutler, hit a ground ball to the second baseman, who delivered a perfect throw to the plate to get Brizzi out and keep the game alive.
Next inning, Ashley Esty singled with one out to get the Huskies’ offense going. With two outs, Esty went on to steal second, then advanced to third on a fielding error by the shortstop. Reese Guevarra walked, bringing Briana Marcelino to the plate with the winning run on third and two outs. Marcelino came through with a 1-0 wingle to left center to score Esty and get the walk-off victory.
Koshes got her seventh win of the season, giving her an even 7-7 record. She finished the contest with 7.2 innings pitched, three hits allowed, no runs, one walk and five strikeouts.
The Huskies end their season with a home series this weekend against Tulsa. The first game will be Friday at 3 p.m., the second game will be Saturday at 1 p.m. and the third and final game will be Sunday at noon.
Sean Janos is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. He can be reached via email at sean.janos@uconn.edu.
