The University of Connecticut softball team defeated the University of Massachusetts in a midweek matchup on Wednesday.
The Huskies (22-13, 9-3) captured this victory over their New England rivals at the Burrill Family Field, bringing their home record to 6-1 on the season. This was Connecticut’s fourth-straight win over the Minutemen (9-23, 3-6) since 2022.
Junior Hope Jenkins made her ninth start of the season for the Huskies. She got hot water early on, giving up a leadoff triple by third-year Riain Keefe. She walked freshman Sophia Thormeyer, who then stole second base, setting up second and third with no outs.
After a bloop single that scored Keefe from third, Hope a line drive back up the middle, doubling up Thormeyer at second base to mitigate the damage as UMass took a 1-0 lead.
Hope tightened up in the circle as she struck out four straight batters over two shutout innings. She struck out the side in the top of the second, sitting down all three Minutewomen batters looking.
In the bottom of the third inning, UConn finally built some momentum as junior Kaitlyn Kibling led off with a walk before senior Lexi Hastings landed a base hit into left field.
This gave junior Grace Jenkins the opportunity to put the Huskies on the board, as she chased a low pitch and blasted it over the fence into centerfield, giving her twin sister a comfortable two run support cushion at 3-1.
Following a scoreless fourth inning, senior Taylor Richardson got on base with a base hit and stole second to put the Minutewomen in scoring position in the fifth. With two outs, Thormeyer hit a fly ball into left field. Hastings laid out to make the play but couldn’t come down with it, allowing Richardson to score, halving the Huskies’ lead.
A bunt from Hastings’ led to Husky runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. After moving over to third on an infield single from Grace Jenkins, Hastings scored after junior Kaiea Higa belted a double down the line.
Senior Rosie Garcia scored Grace from third for UConn’s second run of the inning, with a sacrifice fly to center field. The Huskies continued to pour it on as sophomore Kaitlyn Breslin shot a base hit up the middle to score Higa.
To cap off a four-run inning, freshman Cat Pettys launched a double deep to the warning track in centerfield, bringing Breslin home and making the lead 7-2 in favor of UConn.
Hope continued her dominance on the rubber, finishing the game with seven strikeouts. After sitting down her seventh batter in the top of the sixth, Hope walked sophomore Riley Kairer, which prompted freshman Amber Bretton to come into the game while the Huskies had a comfortable lead.
The Minutemen jumped on the freshman and chipped away at UConn’s lead. Three consecutive wild pitches from Bretton scored Kairer from first base. Bretton walked fifth-year Sarah Keagy, who was pinch ran for by sophomore Grace Colucci.
Base hits from freshman Katharine Heslin and Richardson loaded the bases for the Minuteman, bringing the potentially game tying run to the plate in the form of Musch. Musch hit a sacrifice fly ball to center field to score Colucci from third.
It felt like the Huskies defense had a rally on their hands, but Pettys made a clean play at third base to stop the bleeding at two runs, maintaining the Huskies lead at 7-4.
UConn slammed the door on the Minutemen in the bottom of the inning. Hastings reached on yet another infield hit, then swiped second to jumpstart the rally. A standup double on the next pitch from Grace scored Hastings.
Higa followed up with a double of her own, struck well over the left fielder’s head. Second-year Rayah Snyder came in to pinch run for Higa. After stealing third, Snyder scored on a single from Breslin to extend the Huskies lead to six.
After a sixth inning that did not go her way, Bretton closed out the game in four batters to secure the 10-4 victory for UConn.
Hastings finished the game a perfect four for four with three infield singles on the day. Her speed on the basepaths gave the UMass infield no chance to get a throw off to first base. Hastings’ two stolen bases brought her season tally to a team-leading 21.
The Huskies will prepare for their upcoming weekend series to take on Providence College. The Huskies will look to continue their series unbeaten streak in Big East competition.
That series will open up with Friday’s contest at Glay Field, which is scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. start. Fans can watch the game on FloSports.