Spring Break
Late-Inning Stretch
Softball: UConn Faces Big East's Best In 2 Doubleheaders
Chris Brodeur
Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: Sports
With doubleheaders on tap in DePaul and Notre Dame this weekend, the softball team has the top of the conference standings in its sights.
UConn is currently alone in second in the Big East with a mark of 11-3 in the conference, two games back of South Florida. DePaul (35-14) and Notre Dame (30-16) stand tied for third at 9-5.
The Huskies (25-17) had been on a seven-game winning streak previous to Wednesday's no-hit loss to UMass with All-American pitcher Brandice Balschmiter providing the gem on the mound. UConn rallied to defeat Central Connecticut State on Tuesday, scoring three times in the bottom of the seventh after a sluggish effort through the first six to earn the walk-off win.
"I think we've been playing some good ball," said head coach Karen Mullins. "I was a little disappointed with the two midweek games we just had, but now we're getting back on the road and hopefully we can get back into the flow."
As always, the Huskies will go as far as the starting-pitching tandem of Tricia Sullivan and Rachael Crossin takes them. Sullivan is coming off the worst outing of her sophomore season, serving up six runs in just three innings of work to drop her record to 13-8 and send her ERA to 2.86. Crossin (9-9) hasn't registered as many victories as her counterpart, but has looked dominant in many of her outings, as evidenced by her 2.12 ERA.
UConn's offensive stars have shone brightest in conference play, with six hitters coming into the weekend with batting averages of .300 or higher in Big East action. The power sources in the lineup are numerous, as three Huskies are currently tied with six home runs: Danielle Del Ponte, Sarah Neuschwander, and last year's conference player of the year, Micah Truax.
Del Ponte and Neuschwander are tied for the team-lead in RBI with 26, and Truax - the school's all-time home run leader - has caught fire in recent weeks, coinciding with the team's hot streak over the same stretch. Her batting average, which once dipped below .180 in early April, is now .326 overall, boosted by an in-conference output of .489 through 14 games.
The Huskies welcomed a pair of regulars back last weekend as freshman standout Melissa Lucas returned after recovering from an appendectomy to reclaim her spot at the heart of the order and in right field. Junior Meghan Tierney resumed play at third base after suffering a concussion against Seton Hall on April 13 while attempting a bunt. Both players have added to the stability of the club and helped to recharge a bench that had been exhausted in their absence.
"We're back into the conference and we're hoping to get our energy level back," Mullins said. "We've got a lot of season left and the team's starting to heal up a little bit so it's given us a few more options."
UConn hosts two more doubleheaders next weekend to wrap up conference play before the Big East tournament begins on May 8.
Contact Chris Brodeur at Christopher.Brodeur@UConn.edu.
UConn is currently alone in second in the Big East with a mark of 11-3 in the conference, two games back of South Florida. DePaul (35-14) and Notre Dame (30-16) stand tied for third at 9-5.
The Huskies (25-17) had been on a seven-game winning streak previous to Wednesday's no-hit loss to UMass with All-American pitcher Brandice Balschmiter providing the gem on the mound. UConn rallied to defeat Central Connecticut State on Tuesday, scoring three times in the bottom of the seventh after a sluggish effort through the first six to earn the walk-off win.
"I think we've been playing some good ball," said head coach Karen Mullins. "I was a little disappointed with the two midweek games we just had, but now we're getting back on the road and hopefully we can get back into the flow."
As always, the Huskies will go as far as the starting-pitching tandem of Tricia Sullivan and Rachael Crossin takes them. Sullivan is coming off the worst outing of her sophomore season, serving up six runs in just three innings of work to drop her record to 13-8 and send her ERA to 2.86. Crossin (9-9) hasn't registered as many victories as her counterpart, but has looked dominant in many of her outings, as evidenced by her 2.12 ERA.
UConn's offensive stars have shone brightest in conference play, with six hitters coming into the weekend with batting averages of .300 or higher in Big East action. The power sources in the lineup are numerous, as three Huskies are currently tied with six home runs: Danielle Del Ponte, Sarah Neuschwander, and last year's conference player of the year, Micah Truax.
Del Ponte and Neuschwander are tied for the team-lead in RBI with 26, and Truax - the school's all-time home run leader - has caught fire in recent weeks, coinciding with the team's hot streak over the same stretch. Her batting average, which once dipped below .180 in early April, is now .326 overall, boosted by an in-conference output of .489 through 14 games.
The Huskies welcomed a pair of regulars back last weekend as freshman standout Melissa Lucas returned after recovering from an appendectomy to reclaim her spot at the heart of the order and in right field. Junior Meghan Tierney resumed play at third base after suffering a concussion against Seton Hall on April 13 while attempting a bunt. Both players have added to the stability of the club and helped to recharge a bench that had been exhausted in their absence.
"We're back into the conference and we're hoping to get our energy level back," Mullins said. "We've got a lot of season left and the team's starting to heal up a little bit so it's given us a few more options."
UConn hosts two more doubleheaders next weekend to wrap up conference play before the Big East tournament begins on May 8.
Contact Chris Brodeur at Christopher.Brodeur@UConn.edu.
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