STORRS, Conn. – The BIG EAST Champions and No. 3 seeded UConn softball team will make their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001, as they head to Baton Rouge Regional this weekend hosted by LSU. The Huskies opening round game will be against the No. 2 seeded Nebraska Huskers on Friday, May 16 at 3:00pm EST. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
The regional contains the No. 1 seed LSU Tigers, No. 2 seed Nebraska Huskers, and No. 4 seed Southeastern Louisiana Lions.
This weekend will mark the Huskies ninth NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. UConn is 11-17 all-time in the tournament and have one Women’s College World Series appearance in 1993.
This season UConn has posted wins over four teams in the tournament field in Elon, North Florida, Mercer, Coastal Carolina.
Last weekend, UConn (35-17) won the program’s first BIG EAST Tournament championship in 24 years as the Huskies powered their way to the program’s ninth conference championship, outscoring their opponents 35-9 in just three games. In their three games on the main line, UConn hit .392 as a club, recording 31 hits, 13 extra base hits, including six home runs, giving the Huskies 76 homers this season, a program record.
UConn has seven players on their roster hitting over .300 this season, as the Huskies are hitting .325 collectively. Led by junior catcher and BIG EAST Player of the Year Grace Jenkins, who leads the Huskies in batting average (.425), hits (71), home runs (21), RBI (68), doubles (19), runs scored (65), and walks (36). Jenkins 21 home runs rank tenth in all of Division I. She has reached base safely in her last 30 straight games.
The UConn pitching staff owns a 4.29 era this season, posting 215 strikeouts in 341.1 innings. This season, UConn is 21-1 when holding opponents to three runs or less. Graduate student and All-BIG EAST First Teamer Payton Kinney has led the Huskies pitching staff this season, logging the most innings and strikeouts across her 34 appearances. Kinney has made six consecutive starts in the circle for the Huskies dating back to the regular season. Kinney was dynamite at the BIG EAST Tournament, pitching in 16 out of UConn’s 18 innings, leading the Huskies on their championship run. The Florida native was named the BIG EAST Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Scouting Nebraska (39-13, 17-5 Big Ten)
The Nebraska Huskers finished second in the Big Ten with a 17-5 conference record. They are coming off a loss to UCLA in the Big Ten semifinals, 4-2, snapping a five game winning streak. This season they have recorded wins over six NCAA Tournament teams in Tennessee, Howard, Ohio State, Omaha, Northwestern, and Washington. The Huskers are coached by Rhonda Revelle in her 33rd season with the Big Red. Nebraska is led by Big Ten Player and Pitcher of the Year, Jordy Bahl. The Huskers had a total of four All-Big Ten selections. UConn has only played Nebraska twice, in 1989, and 1990. The Huskies are 0-2 all-time against the Huskers.
Scouting LSU (41-14, 12-12 SEC)
The LSU Tigers are hosting their ninth straight NCAA Tournament regional. The Tigers finished ninth in the SEC with a 12-12 conference record. LSU has posted an impressive 30-4 record at home this season. The Tigers are coming off a loss to Oklahoma in the SEC Quarterfinal, 4-1. LSU has recorded 19 wins over NCAA Tournament teams in Southeastern Louisiana, Northwestern, Virginia Tech, UCLA, Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Texas, Florida, Arkansas, and Mississippi State. The Tigers are coached by Beth Torina in her 14th season. LSU garnered four All-SEC selections, including the SEC Freshman of the Year Tori Edwards. The last time UConn and LSU met on the diamond was back in 2016. The Huskies are 0-2 all-time against the Tigers.
Scouting Southeastern Louisiana (47-15, 17-7 Southland)
The Southeastern Louisiana Lions earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, winning the Southland Conference for the second consecutive season. The Lions finished second in the Southland Conference with a 17-7 record. Southeastern Louisiana has a pair of wins over Jackson State who earned the Southwestern Athletic Conference automatic bid. The Lions are coached by Rick Fremin in his 10thseason. Southeastern Louisiana had five All-Southland selections including the newcomer of the year in pitcher Macie Larue. These two programs have never met on diamond.
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