ROSEMONT, ILL. – Second-seeded UConn held off #3 Creighton, 8-3, in the if-necessary game to win the 2026 BIG EAST Softball Championship, successfully defending their title from last season.
With the victory, the Huskies earned the BIG EAST’s automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Softball Championship.
The 2026 NCAA DI softball selection show will air at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 10 on ESPN2, when the 64-team bracket will be revealed.
With a 2-0 record and 2.33 ERA, graduate pitcher Jessica Walter was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Teammates Cat Petteys, Emma Willers, and Kaitlyn Breslin joined Walter on the All-Tournament squad.
Creighton pitcher Landrie Harris, first baseman Keegan Mayhue, designated player Kaelan Schultz, Butler pitcher Maren Berger and Providence infielder Julia Renny rounded out the All-Tournament team.
Game 2: #2 UConn, 8, #3 Creighton, 3 – Box Score - Photo Gallery
A five-run sixth inning in the if-necessary game fueled UConn to an 8-3 victory over Creighton.
The Huskies came out swinging, registering three runs in the top of the first. BIG EAST Player of the Year Cat Petteys opened scoring with an RBI double to send Savannah Ring home. Petteys then contributed a run behind an RBI double from Kaitlyn Breslin who punctuated the inning with a tally of her own.
Creighton countered in the bottom of the first with an RBI double from BIG EAST Freshman of the Year Keegan Mayhue to score Lily West.
Mayhue proceeded to tie up the ball game 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run double, sending Tara Vandewater and Ella Dalton home.
The Huskies answered with five runs in the sixth beginning with an RBI triple from Heidi Barber to score Bella Cruz. Isabella Lundquist tacked on another run before Petteys launched a solo home run over the right field fence.
Emma Willers continued the run rush, delivering an RBI double to send Breslin home. Willers then found home herself off the bat of Kaitlyn Kibling.
The Huskies owned an 11-9 edge in hits. Walter threw a complete game for the win.
Audrey Gilman bore the loss, tossing 1.2 innings with three strikeouts. Fellow Bluejay Landrie Harris hurled 5.1 innings and struck out three.
Game 1: #3 Creighton, 5, #2 UConn, 2 - Box Score – Photo Gallery
Creighton never trailed in a 5-2 victory over UConn to force the if-necessary game for the first time since 2021.
The victors registered a run in the top of the first with an RBI double from West to score Kaelan Schultz. They logged another run in the top of the third when Erika Perez notched an RBI single to send Zoey Greenwood home.
UConn answered in the latter half of the third inning; Savannah Ring contributed a run on a sacrifice fly.
Creighton countered with a run from Meghan McCutcheon in the fifth before tacking on another two runs in the seventh. Mayhue produced an RBI triple to score West. Mayhue then contributed a run of her own off the bat of Greenwood.
The Huskies picked up a run from Barber in the bottom of the seventh.
Creighton outhit UConn, 10-6.
Bluejay Landrie Harris earned the win, throwing a complete game with a pair of strikeouts.
UConn’s Caprice Bohmer bore the loss, tossing five innings and striking out six. Teammate Sydnee Koosh pitched a pair of frames.
2026 BIG EAST Softball All-Tournament Team
Maren Berger, RS-So., P, Butler
Julia Renny, Sr., INF, Providence
Landrie Harris, So., P, Creighton
Keegan Mayhue, Fr., 1B, Creighton
Kaelan Schultz, Jr., DP, Creighton
Kaitlyn Breslin, Jr, OF, UConn
Cat Petteys, So., SS, UConn
Jessica Walter, Gr., P, UConn*
Emma Willers, Fr., 1B, UConn
*Denotes Most Outstanding Player