2008 Woodie Awards
Softball Hosts Four Crucial Games
Chris Brodeur
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: Sports
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The Huskies (15-14, 4-2 Big East) dropped a 3-1 defensive struggle to Hofstra Wednesday, but last weekend's output on the road against conference foes Pittsburgh and Syracuse earned them a winning record in the Big East and a season-high overall winning percentage of .536.
UConn split a doubleheader with the Panthers on Saturday before heading to Syracuse for another twin bill Sunday, which they swept.
Head coach Karen Mullins was encouraged by the way her team has responded after starting 0-5, but she recognizes how important each game is from here on, especially within the Big East.
"We're into some really critical conference games," said Mullins. "We're feeling good about what's going on, we're playing some real good defense and we're getting some consistent pitching."
The Huskies' pitching staff boasts two equally effective front-end starters in sophomore Tricia Sullivan and junior Rachael Crossin. Between them, they have eight complete game shutouts and a combined ERA mark of 2.54. Sullivan (9-7, 2.73 ERA) has already matched her win-loss record from 2007 and has been victorious in three of her four in-conference starts, and Crossin (5-7, 2.34) has allowed just six runs in 17 2/3 Big East innings, posting a shutout victory over Providence on March 29.
The team will be without two regulars this weekend, as everyday second baseman Julie Towers is out of the lineup with a broken finger on her throwing hand and slugging freshman Melissa Lucas is out indefinitely as she recovers from an emergency appendectomy performed last week. Lucas and Towers were one and two in batting for UConn, with averages of .400 and .326, respectively. Lucas had three homeruns and 12 RBI through her first 23 collegiate games, hitting mostly out of the cleanup spot and starting in rightfield.
"We're taking it in stride," Mullin said of the injuries. "We have to realize that it's part of the game and when it happens, you need people to step up. It's always disappointing when players go down."
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