UConn 4, Bryant 1
Jill Stockley shined in her complete-game outing on Tuesday afternoon, as UConn picked up its second-straight win in midweek action with a 4-1 victory over Bryant at Burrill Family Field. Briana Marcelino blasted a two-run homer in the first inning for the Huskies, giving them a permanent lead over the Bulldogs. Three different players had multiple hits for UConn, including Kelli Bates – capitalizing on the momentum she picked up with her three-hit performance against Memphis over the weekend. Stockley allowed just one run on two hits while striking out six in the complete-game win – her team-leading 12th complete game of the season.
The Huskies took an early 2-0 lead in the first after Reese Guevarra, who went 2-for-4 in the lead-off spot, reached on an error and Marcelino drilled her third homer of the year over the left field fence. UConn extended the lead to 3-0 in the second after Kiwi McDaniel drove in Bates with a sacrifice fly. McDaniel drove in UConn’s fourth run of the day in the fourth inning, smacking a double to the left field fence that plated Marcelino from first base. It was the fifth multi-RBI game of the season for McDaniel, second-most on the team.
Memphis 6, Central Arkansas 0
A strong showing at the plate combined with a shutout performance in the circle led Memphis to a 6-0 victory over Central Arkansas Tuesday evening. The Tigers rattled off 13 hits in the contest en route to their 34th win of the season. Memphis is now 34-16 heading into the final home conference series this weekend. The Tigers jumped out early against the Bears with three hits and a run scored in the top of the first inning. Memphis then matched that effort with another run in the second and one in the fourth.
In the top of the sixth with two outs, Memphis loaded the bases for freshman Delaney Smith. Smith delivered with her third triple of the season to score three and put the Tigers up 6-0 over the Bears. Central Arkansas threatened in the sixth with a pair of two out singles and a walk, but a strikeout swinging to end the inning by Molly Smith got Memphis out of a jam. As the Memphis offense produced runs, Smith dominated in the circle to keep UCA off the board. En route to her 22nd victory of the season, Smith allowed just five hits and one walk while striking out nine.
No. 19 Baylor 1, Houston 0 (Game 1); Houston 4, No. 19 Baylor 3 (Game 2)
Houston split its doubleheader with No. 19 Baylor, falling 1-0 in nine innings and winning 4-3 on Tuesday night at Cougar Softball Stadium. With the split, the Cougars move to 30-18 overall, while the Lady Bears slide to 30-14. With 30 victories, Houston’s ties last season’s win total with six games remaining in the regular season. Aspen Howie led the team offensively, going 3-for-6 across the doubleheader. In the first game, Howie and teammates Arielle James, Sarah Queen and Maya Thomas all hit safely. In the second game, she finished 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored. Queen also doubled in the nightcap. In the circle, Trystan Melancon and Savannah Heebner each tossed complete games.
Melancon took the hard-luck loss in the first game. She scattered six hits, surrendering the lone run of the game on a leadoff home run in the top of the ninth inning, while walking one and striking out seven. Melancon carried a perfect game through four and one-third innings. In the night game, Heebner worked around three runs on nine hits with no walks and four punchouts to improve to 20-8. The victory marked the 44th of her career and moves her into a tie with Diedre Outon (2011-14) for fifth all-time in program history.