Softball Close To Reaching Playoffs

By: Pat Parker

Posted: 4/28/06

It's do or die time for the softball team this weekend, as it will try and snag a berth to the Big East Softball Championship on May 11.

The Huskies (18-25, 5-11 in Big East) will play a doubleheader against Syracuse (31-19, 12-6 in Big East) Friday and a doubleheader at Pittsburgh (27-24, 8-10 in Big East) Sunday.

They are currently in 10th place in the conference, one game behind Seton Hall in the win column for ninth and three games behind St. John's in the win column for the eighth and final playoff spot.

UConn must win this weekend if they want a chance at going to the postseason this year and hope that St. John's and Seton Hall lose out. The last Big East games for St. John's and Seton Hall may give the Huskies some hope as the Red Storm and Pirates will both have to face Notre Dame and DePaul to end the Big East regular season.

However, the Huskies must first focus on their opponents this weekend. If the Huskies wish to fare well against these opponents, their bats and pitching must be beyond good and they must get out of the four game losing streak they are currently on.

In last year's meetings with the Panthers and Orange, the Huskies split both series, but those meetings came at the middle road of the season and there was not as much pressure as there will be for these games.

Syracuse has one hitter the Huskies must keep at bay this weekend - Rachel Tilford - who earned All Big East recognition two weeks ago. During the Orange's 5-1 record Tilford drove in 10 RBI over that span.

Against Big East opponents this year, the Huskies pitching staff has given up an average of 4.63 runs per game, and if this trend is continued Friday, look for Tilford to be the Orange who does the most damage.

If the Huskies can pull off the upset against Tilford and the Orange, then Pittsburgh may be an opponent the Huskies can contend with. The Pittsburgh pitching staff has an ERA of 4.28 on the season and their team's batting average is a mediocre .259 on the year.

On paper, the Huskies' bats are more lively than the Panthers', hitting .265 on the year, and their pitching is similar, but the Panthers are pretty much locked up for a playoff spot this season. The pressure will not be on the Panthers when they play, like it will be for the Huskies.

Friday's game will take place at 4 p.m. and Sunday's game will take place at 11 a.m.

If the Huskies pull off the sweep this weekend and St. John's and Seton Hall both fall, then the Huskies will play in a first round match-up against Notre Dame on May 11 at a time to be announced.