Spring Break
Softball staff ready to step up
Matt Schonvisky
Issue date: 3/18/05 Section: Sports
Entering the 2005 season, the UConn Softball team had some high expectations. After adding another quality arm to their bullpen to an already experienced rotation, they looked to get off to a good start. "Pitching is where it all starts and we have worked diligently in the off-season to improve our control and movement," said head coach Karen Mullins. "I feel strongly that this pitching staff is ready to step up and lead the charge toward a Big East Championship." That did happen, at least with the first game of the season following a 12-4 rout over Florida A&M.
However, they dropped their next five games beginning with Florida International and ending with a 3-0 loss to Fresno St. in the first game of a doubleheader. Despite that, the Huskies got their second victory of the season in the second game of that doubleheader, a 1-0 shutout win. But again they could not get a streak going as they dropped their next three out of four with their lone win coming in a 12-1 drubbing of URI. And following another loss to Northern Iowa in San Jose, California on Sunday, their record stands at a disappointing 3-9.
Seniors Suzy De Bary (C/DP) and Ashleigh Campen (C/1B) head the Huskies lineup as they lead the team in most offensive categories including batting average, slugging percentage, and hits. They have a .281 and .257 batting average respectively with each having nine hits apiece.
On the mound, senior pitcher Jessica Gurney leads the team as she has all three wins (3-3 overall) with an impressive 2.31 ERA. Senior pitcher Michelle Caouette has the rest of the decisions as she has an 0-6 record with a 3.77 ERA.
The team is back in action later today in Daytona Beach, Florida where they will have two games against Bethune-Cookman College and the University of Texas-El Paso as they participate in the 2005 Bethune-College Softball Spring Break Classic. They will also face Elon on Saturday and then Fordham on Sunday as part of the tournament.
B-CC, which has won the MEAC each of the last five years, will present a challenge as they defeated a tough University of Florida team earlier this year 5-0. They are also a much more experienced team this year as they post a 20-14 record, which means they have played 22 more games than the Huskies this year. Hopefully, the Huskies can come away from this tournament with a couple of wins that will spark them as they will begin Big East play next weekend.
However, they dropped their next five games beginning with Florida International and ending with a 3-0 loss to Fresno St. in the first game of a doubleheader. Despite that, the Huskies got their second victory of the season in the second game of that doubleheader, a 1-0 shutout win. But again they could not get a streak going as they dropped their next three out of four with their lone win coming in a 12-1 drubbing of URI. And following another loss to Northern Iowa in San Jose, California on Sunday, their record stands at a disappointing 3-9.
Seniors Suzy De Bary (C/DP) and Ashleigh Campen (C/1B) head the Huskies lineup as they lead the team in most offensive categories including batting average, slugging percentage, and hits. They have a .281 and .257 batting average respectively with each having nine hits apiece.
On the mound, senior pitcher Jessica Gurney leads the team as she has all three wins (3-3 overall) with an impressive 2.31 ERA. Senior pitcher Michelle Caouette has the rest of the decisions as she has an 0-6 record with a 3.77 ERA.
The team is back in action later today in Daytona Beach, Florida where they will have two games against Bethune-Cookman College and the University of Texas-El Paso as they participate in the 2005 Bethune-College Softball Spring Break Classic. They will also face Elon on Saturday and then Fordham on Sunday as part of the tournament.
B-CC, which has won the MEAC each of the last five years, will present a challenge as they defeated a tough University of Florida team earlier this year 5-0. They are also a much more experienced team this year as they post a 20-14 record, which means they have played 22 more games than the Huskies this year. Hopefully, the Huskies can come away from this tournament with a couple of wins that will spark them as they will begin Big East play next weekend.