After losing a road series to St. John’s University last week, the UConn softball team (22-19, 10-5 Big East) traveled back to Storrs to take on Creighton University (25-18, 9-6 Big East).
Creighton came into the series, winning their last two Big East series against Georgetown University and Villanova University.
Creighton senior Madeline Vejvoda was named the Big East Player of the Week on Monday after recording seven hits with three doubles, three runs batted in and two runs scored. The Bluejays became the first Big East foe to take down Villanova, coming to Storrs with a lot of momentum.
The series began on Friday night with all three games taking place at Burrill Family Field.
UConn senior Hallie Siems started in the circle for the 20th time this season. She controlled the four innings the Stuttgart, Ark. native pitched, giving up two runs on three hits with five strikeouts in her ninth win of the season.
It was Connecticut’s game from the start. They jumped on the Bluejays early, scoring five runs in the first inning. Junior Rosie Garcia began the rally, doubling off the top of the wall in center field, driving in junior Lexi Hastings, coming off a Big East Weekly Honor Roll week. The San Fernando, Calif. native crossed home plate off a ground out from catcher Lauren Benson. Sophomore Haley Coupal hit a single down the left field line to score sophomore Hope Jenkins from third base. Coupal, along with senior Jana Sanden, scored off a double off the left-center field wall by senior Giuliana Abruscato to cap off the massive inning.
UConn sophomore Grace Jenkins came home from third base off a wild pitch, and Benson hit a two-run single to right center field to add three more runs in the second inning.
Creighton would close the deficit to eight runs in the third inning, but the deficit was too big.
UConn’s lead increased after two runs scored in the bottom half of the third inning. Hastings recorded her first triple of the season, which scored Abruscato from second base. Grace Jenkins hit another double to drive Hastings in and put the game in run-rule territory at 10-2.
Hope Jenkins came in to close the game in the fifth inning thanks to the run rule. It was her 15th appearance of the season as a pitcher.
Saturday’s game did not have the same offensive performance.
Connecticut pitcher Payton Kinney, who made the Big East Weekly Honor Roll on Monday, made her 13th start of the season. The Bradenton, Fla. native was dominant in the 7.1 innings she pitched, only giving up two hits and recording a career-high in strikeouts with 15. After giving up a double in the first inning, Kinney retired 18 straight Bluejays.
It was a pitcher’s duel between the two teams. UConn was in second place in the conference standings, while Creighton was behind them in third. Both teams combined for only three hits through the first five innings.
Hastings broke the scoreless tie in the sixth inning after an inside-the-park home run, her second inside-the-park homer this season. Creighton knotted the game up at one run with a solo shot by Vejvoda, sending the game to extra innings.
Kinney was replaced by graduate student Meghan O’Neil in the eighth inning. The Forest, Va. native only stayed in the circle for 0.2 innings, giving up one hit and striking out one batter.
Creighton jumped out in front with an RBI single.
UConn had the tying run on third base but could not keep the game going as they lost 2-1 in eight innings despite only allowing three Creighton hits.
The series finale on Sunday would result in the winner taking second place in the Big East standings.
Siems got her 21st start of the season, going the first five innings with five strikeouts and allowing five hits.
Hope Jenkins broke the game open in the first inning with an RBI single, driving Garcia in to score.
UConn had a 2-0 lead after the third inning as Sanden brought in Hastings to score with an RBI single. The series was in the Huskies’ hands after a two-run shot by Hope Jenkins, driving in Sanden. Hastings homered to center to score Coupal and sophomore Savannah Ring.
Despite allowing seven hits, Connecticut did not allow a single run, winning 7-0. Siems got to double digits in wins, becoming the first Husky to reach ten wins this season.
Since the all-time series began in 2021, UConn has only lost twice. Their first game against the Bluejays was a 2-1 loss. Saturday was their second loss, also with a 2-1 final score. Since the Huskies won the second game of a doubleheader on March 20, 2021, they went on a nine-game winning streak. Following their win on Sunday, they lead the series 10-2.
Connecticut will have its final non-conference road game on Wednesday as they travel to Amherst, Mass. to take on the University of Massachusetts.
It will be a cross-town battle for Creighton as they return home to take on the University of Nebraska Omaha.