DePaul Sweeps Rutgers

DePaul 8, Rutgers 3
DePaul 6, Rutgers 3

CHICAGO – The DePaul softball team took a pair of BIG EAST games from Rutgers, Saturday at Cacciatore Stadium.  The Blue Demons won the first game 8-3 and the second game 6-3 to improve to 22-15, 7-5. The losses drop Rutgers to 12-32 and 4-12 in league play.

Junior Kate Sheaks and sophomore Sandy Vojik led the Blue Demons with three hits and both connected on home runs in game one.  The duo also each finished with a team-high three RBI on the day.

Vojik connected on a three-run home run to get ignite the Blue Demon bats in the first inning of game.  The sophomore's long ball soared over the center field fence to give DePaul a 4-0 advantage.

The Blue Demon bats continued to produce in the second inning, as DePaul scored three runs on five hits. With two outs, sophomore Marcy Wilus crossed the plate on freshman Jackie Tarulli-Fisher's single to center.  Vojik again heated up the base path, doubling to left center to put runners on second and third.  Sheaks knocked a RBI-single up the middle to put the Blue Demons up 7-0.

The Scarlet Knights added some pressure on DePaul starter Tracie Adix in the fourth as they posted two runs on two hits and a Blue Demon error.

Sheaks' provided the Blue Demons with another offensive push in the sixth inning when her fourth home run of the season cleared the left field wall.

Following Brittany Loisel two-out home run in the top of the seventh, Rutgers loaded the bases, but Adix would get Sarah Kalka to ground out and end the Scarlet Knights threat.

Adix (7-5) earned the win while scattering eight hits and surrendered three runs, but only two were earned.

Christina Yard (5-11) was tabbed with the loss for Rutgers.  Yard threw one inning before Nicole Freeman entered the bottom of the second.  Freeman allowed seven hits and struck out six.

The Blue Demons used runs in the first, second, third and fifth innings to push past Rutgers in game two. 

Heads up base running by junior Linda Secka gave DePaul a 2-0 lead in the second inning.  Secka led off with a single to right center and advanced to second an a sacrifice bunt.  Designated player, Sara Polensky flied out to right field but a tagging Secka advanced to third and scored on an error at the plate.

Rutgers cut DePaul's lead in half with a RBI double from Amanda Shaw in the top of the third.

The Blue Demons loaded the bases in top of the third before Rutgers starter Jessica Crosby was relieved by Christina Gillman.  Gillman walked her first batter and junior Kara Amundson followed with a two-RBI single to left field. 

DePaul took a 5-1 advantage into fourth; but the Scarlet Knights again added pressure as they scored two runs on two hits and a DePaul error in the top of the frame. 

The Blue Demons' final run came in the fifth inning on a Linda Secka sacrifice fly.

Sophomore Stephanie Blagaich (7-3) went six innings to earn the win for the Blue Demons. The sophomore scattered five-hits and struck out one. Senior Leslie Scott threw the final inning.

The Blue Demons will return to the diamond Sunday to host Villanova at 11:00 a.m. following the Cacciatore Stadium dedication.

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