The Daily Campus

Issue date: 4/6/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Ashley Pospisil UConn's Micah Truax takes a swing during her at-bat against Depaul on March 28.

The UConn softball team faced off against in-state rival Central Connecticut over the weekend, playing a double-header Sunday afternoon. While the games were officially listed as home games for Central Connecticut, there was no home field advantage to be had as the Huskies blew out the Blue Devils via the mercy rule in both games.

The Huskies controlled the first game from the start, putting at least one run on the board in every inning en route to a decisive victory. Amy Deluca got things started in the first with a two-run double. Jillian Ortega would push three more runs across the plate with a bases clearing double of her own in the 2nd inning to make the score 5-0.

The Huskies' attack continued as Justyne Roy and Micah Truax each mashed solo home runs in the third and fourth innings, respectively. In the fifth, the Huskies added one more run on a bizarre play in which Jen Ward ran for first following a dropped third strike, and Sarah Neuschwander broke for home and scored after Central catcher Katherine Knowles threw Ward out at first.

The mercy rule was enacted after the Blue Devils couldn't score a run in the bottom of the 5th, and the game ended after five by a score of 8-0. Unfortunately for Central, it was only the first game of a double header, and the second game didn't go much better.

Truax, having already launched her 30th career home run in the first game, added a two run shot in the first inning to give the Huskies an early lead.

Julianne Towers would then smash a three run shot of her own in the second inning, essentially putting the game out of reach for the Blue Devils, who could not muster any offense against the Huskies pitching in either game. The second game, like the first, would be called in the fifth inning due to the mercy rule. The Huskies claimed another victory, this time by a score of 11-0.

Following the game, coach Karen Mullins commended her players for their performance.

"They were good wins, I was pleased we went out and maintained our focus both games," Mullins said.

"I feel like the last week or so we've really been hot, we've been playing well, getting good pitching our offense is coming around we're getting good defense so I think we got some momentum going and I think it's just a matter of keeping it," added Mullins.

The Huskies have now won their last six games, and look to extend the streak further when they face Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I., on Tuesday. The Huskies then return home for the weekend, playing double-headers against Rutgers on Friday and Notre Dame on Saturday.

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