UCF 8, UConn 3
The Knights drew first blood after Kyra Klarkowski ripped a double to right center and scored after Erin Emanuel hit an infield single to go up 1-0 on the Huskies. UCF tacked on another run in the third after Denali Schappacher lined a pitch down the first base line for the Knights' second double of the afternoon. With one out, Brewer doubled to right field scoring Schappacher for the 2-0 lead. The Huskies got a pair of runs back in the bottom of the third after a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch and a walk to knot the score at 2-2.The tie wouldn't last long as the Knights put together six runs in the next two innings. In the sixth, Klarkowski led the inning off with a single to right field and Tamesha Glover moved her over to second and into scoring position. Megan Greenwell delivered an infield single to move Klarkowski over to third. With two outs, Schappacher singled to center field scoring Klarkowski. With a 3-2 count, Brewer blasted a ball over the left field fence for a three-run home run. Aubrey Johnson followed Brewer and answered with a home run of her own to left to go up 8-2 on UConn. The Huskies grabbed another run in the bottom of the sixth with a home run of their own to make it a final score of 8-3. Alea White tied her career-high striking out 10 Huskies and posted a 1.76 earned run average in her 20th win of the season.
UConn 11, UCF 3
Katie Koshes (2-4) delivered arguably her best performance of the season in game two, striking out 11 batters and allowing just one earned run (three total) in an 11-3 complete-game victory over the Knights. Koshes pitched 1.1 innings in relief of Jill Stockley in the first game, striking out three in her brief appearance – making Saturday a 14-strikeout effort for the second-year hurler. She stranded seven runners and allowed just two hits in her second game outing. Not only was the pitching impressive, but the UConn offense came alive – attacking Alea White’s pitches from the beginning. White lasted just 1.2 innings in her second start of the day, allowing four runs (one earned) on three hits. Chloe Kerns shined in the designated player position, going 3-for-3 with three RBI and one run scored in the win. Doubles by Reese Guevarra and Carli Cutler produced runs, while Briana Marcelino added one of her own in the offensive barrage. The Huskies took a 4-0 lead in the second inning, beginning with an RBI double from Cutler as part of her 2-for-3 performance in the seven-spot. Following a throwing error by UCF, Guevarra cashed in with a two-run double, scoring Bates and Cutler. After UCF cut the lead to 4-2 in the top half of the third, UConn answered back with a two-RBI single up the middle from Kerns. In the fourth, the lead was extended to 8-2 after RBI singles from Sappington and once again from Kerns. A three-run fifth inning sealed the mercy-rule win for the Huskies, as a sacrifice fly from Marcelino plated Guevarra to end the game. UCF used four pitchers in the game, combining to allow just three earned runs (11 total) after four errors by the Knights’ defense. It is the first game that UConn has scored 10 runs or more, as it improves to 11-5 when scoring first against opponents this season.
Tulsa 9, Wichita State 3
Tulsa who struck first through an infield single from their leadoff batter. A two-run home run got them both round before two straight singles and a walk loaded the bases. Another single followed by a fielder's choice added on two more. Mackenzie Wright recorded the Shockers first hit of the day with a single up the middle but the Shocker bats left her stranded. Bailey Lange then knocked the Golden Hurricane's down in order quickly followed by Watson doing the same to Wichita State. A diving putout from Wright in the third ended the top half with her second hit of the game seeing her get on base for the second time. Bailee Nickerson followed suit with an opposite field single to get runners on the corners but the Shockers stranded them both. In the fourth Tulsa added two more with a walk and double getting runners on the corners, an infield single getting one home with a sacrifice fly double play getting the other to home plate. The Shockers showed some life in the fifth, Asea Webber singling to get on base with Madison Perrigan crushing a two-run home run over left center to cut the Tulsa lead to 6-2. They responded immediately in the next half inning with a single and walk getting two on base. Three more hits got another three runners home to push the lead to 9-2. The Shockers added their third run of the game in the seventh to cut the lead to 9-3. Webber led off with a double into left center with Perrigan grounding out to get her to third and Mauriana Jamele pinch hitting a ground out RBI to get her home.