Earlier this month, the UConn softball team (26-20, 12-6 Big East) was shut out by the Boston College Eagles (25-20, 5-13 ACC) in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. On Tuesday, the Huskies got their revenge.
The first meeting of the season series ended up becoming the second consecutive game Connecticut had lost against the Eagles, with both contests taking place in the Bay State.
After being swept by No. 14 Florida State University and No. 18 Virginia Tech in two three-game series, Boston College looked to put an end to their six-game losing streak.
UConn came into this midweek game with more momentum than the first meeting, winning the final two games in last weekend’s series at Seton Hall University.
It was the team’s cancer awareness game, with the players writing who they “fight for” before the game. They also sported different helmets that raised awareness for cancer.
The Huskies knew not to trifle with the Eagles, as they play in the ACC, one of the toughest conferences in college softball, with five teams in the top 30 of the ESPN.com/USA Softball rankings — No. 5 Duke University being their top team.
With senior Hallie Siems in the circle, seeking a team-high 11th win on the season, Boston College got on the board in the first inning on an RBI single to left field by freshman Gator Robinson, who stole second to get into scoring position but was left stranded to keep Connecticut’s deficit at one run.
After junior Lexi Hastings walked to begin the bottom of the first inning, senior Lauren Benson and sophomore Grace Jenkins reached on a fielder’s choice, setting up junior Rosie Garcia with a chance to tie or take the lead. Garcia fouled out to left field, allowing Benson to tag up and score, moving Jenkins to second base.
Later in the inning, senior Jana Sanden singled to left field to score Jenkins and take a 2-1 lead early in the game.
In the top of the third inning, Boston College tied the game up on a leadoff home run to center field by senior Nicole Giery.
The Eagles took the lead in the fifth inning on back-to-back scoring plays. After Hannah Slike stole second base to put herself in scoring position, Giery struck again, hitting a double down the left-field line. On the following play, Robinson brought Giery in to score on a single to left center.
At that point, UConn head coach Laura Valentino had seen enough from her ace, putting in senior Payton Kinney, who got the Huskies out of the inning with Robinson at second base.
Siems didn’t have her best outing of the year, allowing six hits, four runs and striking out four batters in 4.1 innings.
In the bottom of the fifth inning and with runners at the corners, Benson doubled to left center to score both sophomore Haley Coupal and Hastings. Garcia would break the tie and give UConn the lead for good after reaching on an error, with Benson crossing home plate.
The fifth inning was by far the most productive one for both teams, with a combined five runs scored by both teams.
In the top of the seventh inning, Hastings helped keep the bases cleared with a massive diving catch in left field.
Kinney got her eighth win of the season, allowing no hits in 2.2 innings and striking out two batters.
Freshman Addison Jackson got the start in the circle for the Eagles, allowing two hits and two runs in four innings. However, sophomore Halie Pappion earned her seventh loss of the season, allowing three runs and two hits in two innings.
The Eagles extended their losing streak to seven games, while the Huskies continued a three-game winning streak.
The overall series favors UConn by a large margin, improving their record against Boston College to 47-22.
Both teams will return to conference play this weekend.
Boston College will travel to South Bend, Indiana, to take on Notre Dame. UConn finishes its home schedule with a three-game series against Villanova, including a nationally televised game on Saturday, April 27.
Overall, the two errors by Boston College were costly, as UConn took advantage and split the season series against its former conference rivals.