For a midweek matchup against a local school, the UConn softball team made a quick road trip up to UMass, taking a short break from their Big East conference slate to face the Minutewomen on the road before their series at Seton Hall this weekend.
Senior Hallie Siems made the start in the circle for the Huskies. To start the game, she struck out the side in the first inning, which got UConn off on the right foot. Siems pitched for six innings, allowing three runs, three hits and added eight strikeouts.
In the second inning, UMass opened the scoring and earned a 1-0 lead after freshman Grace Cadden hit a solo homerun. The Minutewomen would keep that lead until the fourth inning when senior Giuliana Abruscato delivered a two out, two run single to put the Huskies in the lead 2-1. Abruscato finished the game with two hits and two RBIs in three at bats with one walk.
In the sixth inning, the Huskies extended their lead after sophomore Kaitlyn Kibling went deep for a two-run homer that allowed UConn to take a 4-1 lead. In the bottom of the inning when UMass came up to bat, they cut the lead with a two-run homer shot of their own. Sophomore Abby Packard put the Minutewomen right back into the game with her home run and made it a competitive game as she threatened the Huskies lead. As they entered the seventh inning, UConn was still up 4-3 over UMass.
As the game progressed, the Huskies added an insurance run off a UMass error in the seventh inning. The score was now 5-3 with the Huskies in front in the top of the seventh. Graduate student Meghan O’Neil then came in for relief for Siems and to close out the game. O’Neil took care of business by walking just one batter and pitching three strikeouts in the final inning. The Huskies sealed the 5-3 victory over UMass on the road in Amherst, Massachusetts. Siems earned her 11th win of the season on the mound for the Huskies and O’Neil earned the save.
This game improved the Huskies record to 23-19 overall, and they remain at 10-5 in conference action. UConn will be back in action starting Friday for their weekend three-game series against Seton Hall. The Huskies will travel down to South Orange, New Jersey for the Big East matchups that will take place on Friday, April 19 at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 20 at 12 p.m. and Sunday, April 21 at 12 p.m. All of the games will be played at Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field in New Jersey and they will be available to stream on Flosoftball.