# 2021 UConn Huskies softball team

The 2021 UConn Huskies softball team represented the University of Connecticut in the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. The Huskies were led by Laura Valentino in her 2nd year as head coach, and played as part of the Big East Conference after joining the conference for the 2020–21 academic year. They play their home games at the newly rebuilt Connecticut Softball Stadium. UConn finished with a final record of 22–20, and finished third in the Big East with a conference record of 12–9. They reached the final of the Big East Tournament, but fell to Villanova.

## Previous season

As with other teams, the Huskies' 2020 season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic during March. UConn was off to a promising start, with a 16–5 record, the first time the Huskies finished with a winning record since 2009. No conference games were played prior to the early cancellation of the season.

## Schedule

Legend :
| | UConn win |
| | UConn loss |
| | Cancellation |
| Bold | UConn team member |
| * | Non-Conference game |
2021 UConn Huskies softball game log :
Regular season :
February :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | BE Record |
| Feb 12 | vs Ohio* | St. John Stadium – Charles Wade-John Lott Field • Conway, SC (Kickin' Chicken Classic) | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| Feb 12 | vs Tennessee* | St. John Stadium – Charles Wade-John Lott Field • Conway, SC (Kickin' Chicken Classic) | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| Feb 13 | at Coastal Carolina* | St. John Stadium – Charles Wade-John Lott Field • Conway, SC (Kickin' Chicken Classic) | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| Feb 14 | vs Tennessee* | St. John Stadium – Charles Wade-John Lott Field • Conway, SC (Kickin' Chicken Classic) | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| Feb 19 | vs Northern Illinois* | FGCU Softball Complex • Fort Myers, FL (FGCU softball tournament) | W 7–1 | Kinney (1–0) | Norred (0–1) | None | | 1–0 | |
| Feb 19 | vs FIU* | FGCU Softball Complex • Fort Myers, FL (FGCU softball tournament) | W 4–3$^9$ | O'Neil (1–0) | Dunford (2–1) | None | | 2–0 | |
| Feb 20 | vs FIU* | FGCU Softball Complex • Fort Myers, FL (FGCU softball tournament) | W 3–1 | Kinney (2–0) | Dunford (2–2) | None | | 3–0 | |
| Feb 20 | at Florida Gulf Coast | FGCU Softball Complex • Fort Myers, FL (FGCU softball tournament) | L 1–3 | Mesiemore (1–3) | O'Neil (1–1) | None | 178 | 3–1 | |
| Feb 21 | at Florida Gulf Coast* | FGCU Softball Complex • Fort Myers, FL (FGCU softball tournament) | L 4–5$^{11}$ | Mesiemore (2–3) | Kinney (2–1) | None | | 3–2 | |
| Feb 26 | vs Ole Miss* | Getterman Stadium • Waco, TX | L 0–7 | Bruce (1–0) | Kinney (2–2) | None | | 3–3 | |
| Feb 26 | at No. 23 Baylor* | Getterman Stadium • Waco, TX | L 0–5 | Mansell (1–0) | O'Neil (1–2) | None | 300 | 3–4 | |
| Feb 27 | vs Lamar* | Getterman Stadium • Waco, TX | W 7–0 | O'Neil (2–2 | Ruiz (1–2) | None | 100 | 4–4 | |
| Feb 27 | at No. 23 Baylor* | Getterman Stadium • Waco, TX | W 7–3 | Kinney (3–2) | Rodoni (1–2) | None | 300 | 5–4 | |
| Feb 28 | at No. 7 Texas* | Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX | L 2–16$^5$ | White (2–0) | Kinney (3–3) | None | 376 | 5–5 | |
March :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | BE Record |
| Mar 5 | vs Elon* | Williams Field at Anderson Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC (UNC Tournament) | W 7–3 | O'Neil (3–2) | Nemeth (0–2) | None | 40 | 6–5 | |
| Mar 5 | at North Carolina* | Williams Field at Anderson Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC (UNC Tournament) | L 1–3$^8$ | Pickett (5–2) | Kinney (3–4) | None | 80 | 6–6 | |
| Mar 6 | vs No. 17 South Carolina* | Williams Field at Anderson Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC (UNC Tournament) | L 6–7$^8$ | Betenbaugh (4–0) | Kinney (3–5) | None | 40 | 6–7 | |
| Mar 7 | vs Elon* | Williams Field at Anderson Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC (UNC Tournament) | L 0–1$^8$ | Quinn (3–3) | Kinney (3–6) | None | 40 | 6–8 | |
| Mar 7 | at No. 14 Duke* | Duke Softball Stadium • Durham, NC | L 0–7 | St. George (7–0) | Kinney (3–7) | None | | 6–9 | |
| Mar 13 | Georgetown | Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CT | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| Mar 13 | Georgetown | Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CT | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| Mar 14 | Georgetown | Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CT | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| Mar 17 | at Rhode Island* | URI Softball Complex • Kingston, RI | W 10–7 | O'Neil (4–2) | Lynchard (0–4) | None | | 7–9 | |
| Mar 20 | at Creighton | Creighton Sports Complex • Omaha, NE | L 1–2 | Boyd (5–4) | Kinney (3–8) | None | | 7–10 | 0–1 |
| Mar 20 | at Creighton | Creighton Sports Complex • Omaha, NE | W 9–1 | O'Neil (5–2) | Santa Cruz (2–2) | None | 143 | 8–10 | 1–1 |
| Mar 21 | at Creighton | Creighton Sports Complex • Omaha, NE | W 10–5 | Kinney (4–8) | Boyd (5–5) | None | 102 | 9–10 | 2–1 |
| Mar 24 | Central Connecticut* | Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CT | W 10–2$^5$ | Kinney (5–8) | Houghton (1–1) | None | 81 | 10–10 | |
| Mar 27 | Butler | Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CT | W 6–1 | Kinney (6–8) | Ricketts (6–5) | None | 81 | 11–10 | 3–1 |
| Mar 27 | Butler | Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CT | W 4–2 | Kinney (7–8) | Graves (3–4) | None | 81 | 12–10 | 4–1 |
| Mar 28 | Butler | Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CT | W 1–0$^5$ | Kinney (8–8) | Griman (0–2) | None | 60 | 13–10 | 5–1 |
April :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | BE Record |
| Apr 2 | at DePaul | Cacciatore Stadium • Chicago, IL | L 1–5 | Halvorson (4–3) | Kinney (8–9) | None | 50 | 13–11 | 5–2 |
| Apr 2 | at DePaul | Cacciatore Stadium • Chicago, IL | L 5–6 | Gomez (2–0) | O'Neil (5–3) | None | 50 | 13–12 | 5–3 |
| Apr 3 | at DePaul | Cacciatore Stadium • Chicago, IL | L 2–4 | Dalgarn (8–1) | Kinney (8–10) | None | 35 | 13–13 | 5–4 |
| Apr 10 | at Providence | Glay Field • Providence, RI | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols |
| Apr 10 | at Providence | Glay Field • Providence, RI | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols |
| Apr 11 | at Providence | Glay Field • Providence, RI | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols |
| Apr 13 | UMass* | Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CT | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols |
| Apr 14 | at Fordham* | Bahoshy Softball Complex/Murphy Field • Bronx, NY | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols |
| Apr 21 | Seton Hall | Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CT | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols |
| Apr 21 | Seton Hall | Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CT | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols |
| Apr 22 | Seton Hall | Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CT | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols | Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols |
| Apr 27 | at Providence | Glay Field • Providence, RI | W 6–4 | O'Neil (6–3) | Grifone (1–5) | None | 50 | 14–13 | 6–4 |
| Apr 27 | at Providence | Glay Field • Providence, RI | W 8–5 | Olson (1–0) | Murphy (0–1) | None | 50 | 15–13 | 7–4 |
| Apr 28 | at Providence | Glay Field • Providence, RI | W 4–1 | O'Neil (7–3) | Alvarez (2–6) | None | 60 | 16–13 | 8–4 |
May :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | BE Record |
| May 1 | St. John's | Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CT | W 4–3 | O'Neil (8–3) | Brown (4–8) | None | 113 | 17–13 | 9–4 |
| May 1 | St. John's | Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CT | W 9–1$^5$ | O'Neil (9–3) | Saric (1–5) | None | 113 | 18–13 | 10–4 |
| May 2 | St. John's | Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CT | L 2–6 | Kmett (5–5) | Kinney (8–11) | Brown (2) | 113 | 18–14 | 10–5 |
| May 5 | Seton Hall | Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CT | W 3–1 | O'Neil (10–3) | Smith (2–9) | Kinney (1) | | 19–14 | 11–5 |
| May 6 | Seton Hall | Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CT | L 1–2 | Carr (4–8) | Olson (1–1) | None | 77 | 19–15 | 11–6 |
| May 6 | Seton Hall | Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CT | W 6–2 | Kinney (9–11) | Smith (2–10) | O'Neil (1) | 77 | 20–15 | 12–6 |
| May 8 | at Villanova | Villanova Softball Complex • Villanova, PA | L 0–1 | Rauch (17–3) | O'Neil (10–4) | None | 40 | 20–16 | 12–7 |
| May 8 | at Villanova | Villanova Softball Complex • Villanova, PA | L 6–7 | Kennedy (6–3) | O'Neil (10–5) | None | 40 | 20–17 | 12–8 |
| May 9 | at Villanova | Villanova Softball Complex • Villanova, PA | L 7–9 | Pellicano (3–1) | O'Neil (10–6) | None | 40 | 20–18 | 12–9 |
Post-Season :
Big East Tournament :
| Date | Opponent | Seed | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | BET Record |
| May 13 | (2) Villanova | (3) | Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CT | W 4–3 | Kinney (10–11) | Kennedy (6–4) | O'Neil (2) | 113 | 21–18 | 1–0 |
| May 14 | (4) Butler | (3) | Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CT | W 4–1 | Kinney (11–11) | Graves (6–5) | None | 113 | 22–18 | 2–0 |
| May 15 | (2) Villanova | (3) | Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CT | L 1–5 | Rauch (20–3) | Olson (1–2) | None | 113 | 22–19 | 2–1 |
| May 15 | (2) Villanova | (3) | Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CT | L 1–6 | Amarillas (7–3) | O'Neil (10–7) | None | 113 | 22–20 | 2–2 |