Softball Pounds Out 19 Hits in Doubleheader Sweep of St. John's

Game one box - [pdf] [html]

Game two box - [pdf] [html]

STORRS, Conn. (April 12, 2008) - The University of Connecticut softball team recorded 19 hits Saturday as they swept their BIG EAST doubleheader with St. John's. The Huskies won game one 6-5 on Micah Truax's (South Glen Falls, N.Y.) walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh. They then defeated the Red Storm 5-1 in game two. UConn improves to 17-15 overall and 6-2 in the BIG EAST. St. John's is 15-26 and 2-10.

The Huskies struck first in game one when Sarah Neuschwander (Chugiak, Alaska) singled home Justyne Roy (North Dighton, Mass.). The Red Storm scored the next four runs, with the big blow being a two-run home run by Kacee Cox in the top of the third to make it 4-1.

UConn responded in the bottom of the third when Neuschwander hit a two-run home run of her own to cut the St. John's lead to 4-3. The next batter, Danielle Del Ponte (Tewksbury, Mass.) made it back-to-back home runs to tie the game at four.

After the Red Storm scored in the top of the sixth, the Huskies tied it once again at five in the bottom of the inning when Jillian Ortega (Aberdeen, N.J.) singled home Allie Gendron (Belchertown, Mass.). With one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, Del Ponte doubled to left center, which set up Truax to hit the game winning double, also to left centerfield.

During game one, Neuschwander was 3-for-4 with three RBI and one run scored. Gendron was perfect at the plate in game one, going 3-for-3 with one run scored. Tricia Sullivan (New Bedford, Mass.) earned her 10th win of the season, pitching all seven innings and giving up three earned runs, while striking out nine.

The Huskies started off the second game of the doubleheader the same way as the first, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning. Del Ponte hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Ortega and put UConn up 1-0.

St. John's scored in the top of the third to tie the game at one, but UConn was able to blow the game open with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Del Ponte recorded her second RBI of the game with a double that scored Roy. Truax then hit a two-run home run, her fourth of the season and 22nd of her career.

Connecticut added one more run in the bottom of the fifth when Julie Towers (Goodlettsville, Tenn.) hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Jessica Arremony (Griswold, Conn.).

Rachael Crossin (Fairless Hills, Pa.) was solid throughout the game, allowing only one earned run in seven innings pitched. She gave up three hits and struck out seven.

During the second game, Del Ponte was 2-for-2 with two RBI and one run scored. Truax was 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored.

The Huskies return to action on Sunday when they host Seton Hall for a BIG EAST doubleheader. Game time for the first game is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at the Connecticut Softball Field.