Huskies Drop Two In Final Day Of Action At Buzz Classic

UConn 0, Georgia Tech 4 [.pdf], [.html]
ETSU 1, UConn 5 [.pdf], [.html]
UConn 1, Virginia 5 [.pdf], [.html]
 

MARIETTA, Ga. (March 4, 2006) - The University of Connecticut softball team wrapped up play at the 14th Annual Atlanta Marriott Buzz Classic, hosted by Georgia Tech, on Saturday afternoon. The Huskies (2-3) fell to Georgia Tech, 4-0, to open the day, but came back to defeat East Tennessee State, 5-1, to advance to bracket play. UConn, the No. 10 seed in the bracket, fell to the University of Virginia, 5-1, in their final game of the tournament on Saturday evening.

In the first game, neither team could score until the the bottom of the third inning, when Christine Sheridan doubled for Georgia Tech, knocking in Aileen Morales to give the Yellow Jackets the 1-0 lead. The remaining three runs came in the bottom of the fifth inning for Georgia Tech to give them the victory. The Huskies had just two hits in the game and left three runners on base. On the mound, senior Michelle Caouette (Wyantskill, N.Y.) gave up seven hits and four runs in six innings of work while striking out three batters.

Connecticut bounced back in their second game of the afternoon, with sophomore Allie Gendron (Amherst, Mass.) putting the Huskies on the scoreboard with a homerun in the bottom of the second to take the 1-0 advantage over ETSU. Neither team scored again until the fifth, when freshman Meghan Tierney (Salem, Conn.) crossed the plate after an error was committed by the left fielder. Freshman Micah Truax (South Glens Falls, N.Y.), continuing her excellent play from the previous day, singling in junior Jessica Quan (Stockton, Calif.) for UConn's second run of the inning.

Senior co-captain Erica Pernell (Plainville, Conn.) closed out the UConn offense with a two-run home run in the sixth inning. Freshman Erin Burtner (Jefferson, Md.), who  had come in to pinch run for sophomore Christine Keeton (Spokane, Wash.), also crossed the plate with Pernell's homer. East Tennessee's lone run came in the top of the seventh inning. Junior Krista Michalczyk (Salem, N.H.) picked up the win on the hill for UConn, giving up just three hits and one run over seven innings while also striking out four.

With the win over ETSU, the Huskies advanced to bracket play as the No. 10 seed. Taking on the University of Virginia, the Huskies could not answer the single run that the Cavaliers scored in each of the first three innings on a double, single and home run as Virginia opened up the 3-0 lead. The Huskies got on the board in the fourth inning, which opened with a double to left by senior Kim Castner (Forked River, N.J.). Tierney came in to run for Castner and scored two batters later on a single by Gendron. However, it would not be enough, as Virginia added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to close out the game. Freshman Rachael Crossin (Fairless Hills, Pa.) took the loss for the Huskies, giving up seven hits and five runs in six innings on the mound. She also struck out three batters in the loss.

Following the conclusion of tournament play on Sunday, senior Kim Castner (Forked River, N.J.) was named to the All-Tournament Team. For the weekend, the senior was 3-13 with two runs scored, one RBI and one stolen base.

The Huskies will be in action next on Tuesday, March 7 when they travel to Tallahassee, Fla. to play a doubleheader at Florida State. The first game is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m.