Connecticut seeks to avenge a loss at Butler University on Sunday–which snapped a 13-game winning streak–by facing two New England opponents this week. UConn will begin the week with a weekday game against Boston University (25-3, 3-0 Patriot).
The Terriers have been lethal this season, receiving votes in the most recent ESPN/USA Softball Poll.
Boston University is on a six-game winning streak and is undefeated against Northeast softball teams this season (Binghamton, Queens, Canisius, Villanova, Yale, Army).
The Terriers have three players batting over .400 this season, including senior Kayla Roncin, the preseason Patriot League Player of the Year. The other two include senior Lauren Keleher and graduate student Caitlin Coker. Coker was named the Patriot League’s preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
If Boston University goes full throttle for this game, they will have an ace in Kasey Ricard in the circle. The sophomore from Littleton, Mass. has a 12-2 record with a 1.64 earned run average. The preseason Patriot League Pitcher of the Year has pitched 11 complete games this season.
Since both programs met for the first time in 1997, the Terriers have bested the Huskies in 12 of their 19 meetings. UConn has dropped the last six meetings, with the last win coming at Boston University in 2013.
Today’s game against Boston University also includes two promotions: Huskies & Heroes and High School Day. The first pitch from Burrill Family Field at the Connecticut Softball Complex is set for 3:15 p.m. and is available to stream on UConn+.
Following a showdown with the Terriers, UConn will get back into Big East play with a three-game series with Providence College (11-13, 3-6 Big East).
Both UConn and Providence were featured in the Big East weekly awards, which were released on Monday afternoon.
UConn junior Rosie Garcia had six hits and produced eight runs batted in, including four homers. The San Fernando, California native was named the Big East Player of the Week.
Providence freshman pitcher Alyssa Twomey was excellent in the circle. She pitched three victories this week, with an earned-run average of 0.31 across 22.1 innings. The Warwick, Rhode Island native struck out 28 batters as she was named the Big East Pitcher of the Week.
UConn senior pitcher Hallie Siems started three times last week for the Huskies, putting up a 0.51 ERA while giving up just one run and striking out 18 batters in 13.2 innings pitched. With the Stuttgart, Ark. native’s strong performance, she was named to the Big East Weekly Honor Roll.
It will be a homecoming weekend for sophomore Sara MacKinnon, who grew up in Danbury.
On offense, the Friars are led by junior Hanna Aldrich, who leads the team in batting average (.365) and runs with 19.
Providence is coming off a series win over St. John’s University, losing the first game in a doubleheader on Friday before cleaning up two hours later and on Sunday. Outside of a loss on Friday, the Red Storm have won four of their last five games, including two mercy rules against
Stonehill College last Wednesday.
UConn holds a 52-24 record against the Friars all-time, with the first matchup in 1989. Connecticut has won eight of the last ten games against Providence.
The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday. The first game is set to start at noon, while the second will begin at approximately 2:30 p.m., depending on how long the first game goes. The Huskies will complete the three-game series on Monday at 3 p.m. The games this weekend will be played at Burrill Family Field in Storrs and are available to stream on FloSoftball.