Huskies Open Season With Split At Buzz Classic

UConn 14, Marshall 2 [.pdf], [.html]
Austin Peay 12, UConn 2 [.pdf], [.html]

MARIETTA, Ga. (March 3, 2006) - The University of Connecticut softball team opened the 2006 season by splitting the first day of action at the 14th Annual Atlanta Marriott Buzz Classic, hosted by Georgia Tech, on Friday evening. The Huskies won the first game by defeating Marshall, 14-2, but fell in the second game, 12-2, to Austin Peay.

The Huskies opened up their season with a bang, scoring nine runs on five hits and one error in the bottom of the first inning to take the early lead. Freshman Micah Truax (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) got things started when she singled up the middle and was advanced to second when fellow freshman Jillian Ortega (Aberdeen, N.J.) reached on a fielder's choice bunt. After freshman Danielle Del Ponte (Tewskbury, Mass.) loaded the bases on a single back to the pitcher, sophomore Christine Keeton (Spokane, Wash.) knocked in UConn's first run of the season when Truax scored following a fielder's choice. Ortega also scored due to a throwing error on the play.

Senior Erica Pernell (Plainville, Conn.) reached base on a single, causing Del Ponte to score, and was later knocked in herself when junior Jessica Quan (Stockton, Calif.) was hit by a pitch. Truax, returning to the plate, picked up her first career RBI after junior Kristina Tolles (Southington, Conn.) scored after the freshman earned a base on balls. Ortega picked up her first career hit and RBI on a bases-clearing triple following Tolles's walk, with Truax, Quan and senior Kim Castner (Forked River, N.J.) scoring. Del Ponte continued the quality play by the freshmen with a single up the left side, causing Ortega to score UConn's ninth and final run of the inning.

Neither team scored again until the top of the third, when Rachel Folden hit a two-run home run to bring the Thundering Herd back to within seven. However, Truax continued her impressive play, homering as the first batter in the bottom of the third to give UConn the 10-2 advantage. The Huskies wrapped up their offense for the game in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run by freshman Sarah Neuschwander (Chugiak, Alaska) and a three-run shot off the bat of Truax. Truax drove in Castner and Tolles on the play.

On the mound, senior Michelle Caouette (Wyantskill, N.Y.) earned the win for the Huskies. In five innings of work, Caouette gave up two runs on four hits while striking out nine batters in the 14-2 win.

The Huskies started out hot in their second game of the evening when Keeton singled to centerfield, driving in Ortega, who had walked to open the inning. Austin Peay scored twice in the bottom of the first and despite one more run, this time driven in on a single by Castner in the second, it was not enough for the Huskies as the Govs scored 10 more unanswered runs to close out the game with the 12-2 victory.

Junior Krista Michalczyk (Salem, N.H.) took the loss in the second game for the Huskies, giving up six runs on two hits in 1.1 innings pitched. She also struck out two batters in the game. Freshman Rachael Crossin (Fairless Hills, Pa.) also gave up six runs in 1.1 innings on the hill, giving up four hits and striking out one batter. Sophomore Ashley Thody (Middletown, Conn.) was the third UConn pitcher to take the mound, giving up no runs and no hits in the final 1.1 innings of play.

UConn will be in action again on Saturday, March 4 when they take on host Georgia Tech at 1:00 p.m. and East Tennessee State at 4:00 p.m.