Huskies hit USF's Nevin's well

The UConn softball team lost its three-game set to the South Florida Bulls this past weekend, but the series can hardly be looked upon as a disappointment.

The Huskies (18-17, 7-5) were riding a hot streak heading into this weekend’s match-ups, but they were still the heavy underdog to a South Flordia team that was undefeated in Big East play and had just won its school-record 19th consecutive game. But despite Sunday’s match-up in which the Bulls built upon an early lead to run-rule the Huskies, South Florida (40-6, 13-1) didn’t look like the dominant team they have been for most of this season. This can be credited to the consistent performances by junior hurler Kiki Saveriano over the weekend.

Nevins not enough

The Husky bats have heated up considerably these past few weeks, most notably highlighted by their performance against sophomore hurler Sara Nevins. Nevins, who is a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year nominee, came into the weekend’s match-ups with a 23-2 record and nation-best 0.58 ERA. Nevins left Storrs having given up five earned runs in her nine total innings pitched on Saturday and two more when in for relief on Sunday. She also left without a win in her three appearances.

The damage can be attributed to the likes of senior powerhouse Amy Vaughn, who sent her tenth ball over the fences in Saturday’s match-up with the Bulls.

Looking ahead

After Tuesday’s match-up with Rhode Island, the Huskies will have ten Big East games and an April 26 match-up with Hartford to end the season.

The Huskies, currently in sixth place in the Big East, are only two games behind 5th place Notre Dame and three behind DePaul. Overtaking DePaul is a serious possibility and will depend heavily upon the Huskie’s two-game set with the Blue Demons on Wednesday in Storrs.