DePaul University Athletics
Softball Defeats Penn State in NCAA Opener
5/16/2002 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
Minneapolis, Minn.--Christina Douglas delivered two hits and two RBIs leading the second-seeded DePaul softball team to a 3-1 victory over fifth-seeded Penn State in the opening round of NCAA play.
Penn State loaded the bases with one out in the first but couldn’t push a run across. Lindsay Chouinard struck out Megan Humphrey and retired Kelly Galigher with a ground out to third baseman Katy Kukman escaping the jam.
In the bottom half of the first, Liz Bouck led off with a walk and Sarah Martz sacrificed her to second. Christina Douglas brought Bouck home with a single up the middle giving the Blue Demons’ a 1-0 lead. Douglas has collected a hit in 14 of her last 17 games.
DePaul added two more runs in the third inning after Katy Kukman walked opening the inning. April Valdez sacrificed her to second and Bouck reached with an infield single putting runners at the corners. Bouck stole second and Martz grounded out to second base scoring Kukman and moving Bouck to third. Christina Douglas picked up her second RBI of the game lacing a single to left field scoring Bouck and DePaul’s final run.
Penn St. picked up an unearned run in the fourth inning and put runners on second and third with one out in the seventh. However, Chouinard retired Gina Bianchini with a fly ball to center field and struck out Mandy Nuxoll preserving the Blue Demon victory.
Chouinard moves to 29-4 allowing one unearned run and throwing her 30th complete game of the season, tying her own single-season record. She has allowed one earned run in her last 103 1/3 innings pitched.
Christina Douglas finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Bouck went 1-for-2 with a run scored.
The Blue Demons improve to 47-9 and face the winner of the Princeton vs. Minnesota game tomorrow at 5:00 p.m.
