Gilbert Drives In Two Runs, Pirates Lose to UConn, 5-2

Saturday, April 23

South Orange, N.J.

1 PM

Seton Hall University

17-19, 6-11

Connecticut

31-14, 17-3

UCONN

Seton Hall

Gilbert Drives In Two Runs, Pirates Lose to UConn, 5-2

4/23/2022 3:53:00 PM | Softball

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South Orange, N.J. - Freshman Olivia Gilbert (Johnston, R.I.) came through with a clutch two-run double in the fourth inning of Seton Hall softball's game against UConn, but the Huskies held on for a 5-2 win over the Pirates Saturday at Essex County Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field.

The Pirates fell to 17-19 overall and 6-11 in BIG EAST play. UConn improved to 31-14 overall, 17-3 in conference.

How It Happened
The Huskies posted three runs in the top of the first inning, but Seton Hall junior pitcher Shelby Smith (Friendswood, Texas) settled in nicely and put up zeroes in the next three frames.

In the bottom of the fourth, Smith drew a walk and freshman Taylor Hill (Little Falls, N.J.) doubled down the right field line to put runners on second and third. After freshman Jenna Blevins (Flat Rock, Mich.), was hit by a pitch, the bases were loaded for Gilbert with just one out. On the first pitch, Gilbert drove the ball opposite field to right, getting down for extra bases. Senior Marisa Pla (San Clemente, Calif), running for Smith, easily scored, as did Hill. However, Gilbert, who would have been the tying run, was stuck between trying to score and getting back to third. She was caught in a run down and tagged out.

Seton Hall trailed by just one, 3-2, after four, but UConn struck for a run in the fifth and a run in the sixth while the Pirates advanced only one more runner into scoring position the rest of the afternoon.

Notes & Numbers

The Pirates had five hits on the day from five different batters. Gilbert and Hill had the doubles, Blevins had a single as did sophomore Hannah Alexander (Wrightstown, N.J.) and freshman Amber Johnson (Belfair, Wash.).
Smith started and threw her ninth consecutive complete game. She allowed five runs on nine hits, did not walk a batter and struck out five. She has now pitched 17 consecutive innings without allowing a walk.
Seton Hall is now 17-42 all-time against Connecticut.

Up Next
Seton Hall concludes the three-game series with the Huskies Sunday with a noon first pitch. It will be Senior Day, and the Pirates will honor their graduating seniors -- Baylee Allender, Janae Barracato, Cadyn Ehrenberg and Marisa Pla -- in a pregame ceremony that will begin at 11:40 a.m. The game will be live streamed on FloSoftball, which requires a subscription.