The University of Connecticut softball team advanced to the semifinal round of the 2026 BIG EAST Tournament after defeating Creighton, 9-3, at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex on May 8. The Huskies overcame an early deficit and scored nine unanswered runs to secure their place in the next stage of the competition.
This win is significant for UConn as it keeps their championship hopes alive and demonstrates their resilience after falling behind in the first inning. The team’s performance showcased strong pitching, timely hitting, and contributions from throughout the lineup.
Graduate pitcher Jessica Walter started for UConn, making her sixteenth start of the season. After allowing three runs in a challenging first inning, Walter settled down and kept Creighton scoreless over the final six innings. She threw her first complete game of the season, giving up two earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and earning her seventh win.
Creighton took an early lead by scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. UConn responded immediately with a run in their half of that inning when Kaityn Breslin doubled to bring home Haley Coupal. In the second inning, Kaitlyn Kibling hit her sixth triple of the year and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Ava Calciano. Caylee De Meo followed with a solo home run to tie it at 3-3 before play was delayed due to weather for over an hour.
After resuming play, UConn broke through with four runs in the fourth inning. Cat Petteys hit her eighteenth home run—a two-run shot—to give UConn a lead they would not relinquish. Kibling added another triple and Calciano contributed an RBI double as part of that rally.
Walter retired nine out of ten batters faced from innings five through seven while UConn added insurance runs courtesy of Breslin’s single and a wild pitch that allowed Petteys to score.
With this victory, UConn moves on to face Butler in Friday’s semifinal round scheduled for 2:00 p.m., which will be streamed online.
