Spring Break
Untimely injuries put pressure on freshman pitcher to fill void
Mac Currullo
Issue date: 4/16/09 Section: Sports
The UConn softball team had a dramatic win Tuesday against Hofstra and another big win Wednesday against Dartmouth; however, as Uconn coach Karen Mullins put it, "it came at quite a cost."
The softball team suffered two major losses to this week, losing pitcher Tricia Sullivan and outfielder Sarah Neuschwander to significant injuries. Both could be out for the season.
Sullivan injured her shoulder sliding into home plate during the Hofstra game. The injury is believed to be a torn labrum in her pitching shoulder. When asked what the timetable for her return might be, Mullins did not appear to be optimistic.
"There really isn't [a timetable], they're looking at a torn labrum in her pitching shoulder, so we're waiting for more results but she could be done for the year I imagine," Mullins said.
With Sullivan's absence, the burden will fall on the remaining Huskies pitchers, particularly freshman Jessie Stavola who will take her place in the starting rotation.
"A lot of the younger players have to step it up," Stavola said. "We have to take that spot in doesn't matter whether you're a freshman or a senior, you still have to play to your full potential and do the best you can."
Even more unfortunate, however, is the injury of senior Sarah Neuschwander. whose collegiate career could be over.
"We're waiting on results, keeping our fingers crossed but she was in a lot of pain so there could be some major damage," Mullins said of Neuschwander.
No final decision will be made concerning Neuschwander's status until the test results come in, but it is clear that she will be out for the foreseeable future, at best. Who will fill her role in the outfield is not yet clear.
Mullins experimented with several lineups in the Dartmouth game, putting Jen Ward, Amy Vaughan, Amy DeLuca and even third baseman Jillian Ortega in the outfield at various points in the game.
"It gives us a chance to work different things since we don't have our starters in their position, so it gives us a chance to look at who we can move around, who can play certain positions and whatnot," Stavola said.
Mullins was quick to make her point about the injury situation.
"Other people are just going to have to step up," Mullins said.
With two huge Big East matchups coming up this weekend, the injuries could not have come at a worse time, but the Huskies are trying to keep it from slowing the team's momentum down.
"We just hope that our kids stay in the flow and we're able to move on and recover," Mullins said.
The softball team suffered two major losses to this week, losing pitcher Tricia Sullivan and outfielder Sarah Neuschwander to significant injuries. Both could be out for the season.
Sullivan injured her shoulder sliding into home plate during the Hofstra game. The injury is believed to be a torn labrum in her pitching shoulder. When asked what the timetable for her return might be, Mullins did not appear to be optimistic.
"There really isn't [a timetable], they're looking at a torn labrum in her pitching shoulder, so we're waiting for more results but she could be done for the year I imagine," Mullins said.
With Sullivan's absence, the burden will fall on the remaining Huskies pitchers, particularly freshman Jessie Stavola who will take her place in the starting rotation.
"A lot of the younger players have to step it up," Stavola said. "We have to take that spot in doesn't matter whether you're a freshman or a senior, you still have to play to your full potential and do the best you can."
Even more unfortunate, however, is the injury of senior Sarah Neuschwander. whose collegiate career could be over.
"We're waiting on results, keeping our fingers crossed but she was in a lot of pain so there could be some major damage," Mullins said of Neuschwander.
No final decision will be made concerning Neuschwander's status until the test results come in, but it is clear that she will be out for the foreseeable future, at best. Who will fill her role in the outfield is not yet clear.
Mullins experimented with several lineups in the Dartmouth game, putting Jen Ward, Amy Vaughan, Amy DeLuca and even third baseman Jillian Ortega in the outfield at various points in the game.
"It gives us a chance to work different things since we don't have our starters in their position, so it gives us a chance to look at who we can move around, who can play certain positions and whatnot," Stavola said.
Mullins was quick to make her point about the injury situation.
"Other people are just going to have to step up," Mullins said.
With two huge Big East matchups coming up this weekend, the injuries could not have come at a worse time, but the Huskies are trying to keep it from slowing the team's momentum down.
"We just hope that our kids stay in the flow and we're able to move on and recover," Mullins said.
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