CHAPEL HILL, NC – The UConn softball team (6-7) fell on a difficult Saturday afternoon, dropping to # 17 South Carolina, 7-6, in an eight-game clash on the second day of the Carolina Classic. The Huskies got a head start, but failed to keep South Carolina at bay.
Briana marcelino led the way to UConn while the senior registered a home run and three RBIs while doing 2 of 2 on the board. Devon Casazza (2-4) recorded a pair of home runs to go with his three RBIs, Reese Guevarra (1-4) added a double, and Jana Sanden caught two hits in three appearances on the board, completing the offensive UConn leaders. Payton Kinney he scored nine jumps in seven work innings, drawing a season and the high point of his career.
Guevarra gave the Huskies a 1-0 lead at the bottom. The senior got the team off to a quick start with a double-bagger to the right center, eventually coming home on Marcelino’s single from the left side.
After the Gamecocks tied the score at the top of the third, UConn hit back with a pair of home runs in the bottom third that gave them a three-run lead. Casazza kicked off with a homer in the center of the field. Sanden caught a single shortly afterwards, Marcelino landed a shot to the left that put the team in front by three, 4-1. The Huskies added a pair in fourth place and increased their lead to five after Casazza’s second dinger, who also scored Makenzie Mason.
South Carolina stretched to a point after putting four on the table at the top of the fifth frame, then managed to find the tie in the seventh to tie the score in six.
UConn had the opportunity to win the regulation victory. The Huskies managed to put a pair on the base and put themselves in a scoring position, but the Gamecocks managed to get out of the inning unscathed and the game went to the extras.
South Carolina recovered all the way and reached a 7-6 lead at the top of eighth place. The Huskies sought the equalizer round in the bottom half, but were unable to create anything offensive, as the Gamecocks were able to complete their rally and steal the victory.
Next…
UConn closes the weekend with two games on Sunday. The Huskies end the Carolina Classic with a 10am contest against Elon for third place. After that, UConn will follow the road to Durham for a 2 pm attack on Duke.
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