DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Tame the Bulldogs
2/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
ATHENS, Ga. Jackie Tarulli-Fisher registered four RBI to lead the No. 10/8 DePaul softball team to a 6-5 win over Georgia, Saturday at the Red and Black Showcase at the UGA Softball Stadium. With the win, the Blue Demons improve to 2-2 on the young season, while the Bulldogs fall to 3-1.
DePaul starter Lauren Frankiewicz and Georgia starter Christie Hamilton engaged in a pitcher's duel in the early innings as both pitchers were able to send batters back to the dugout. Frankiewicz struck out the Georgia side in the second frame and did so on 11 pitches. Hamilton, who left the game in the middle of the fifth finished with four strikeouts while Frankiewicz sent eight batters back to the dugout in six innings of work.
Fielding errors plagued the Blue Demon defense and resulted in two unearned runs; one in the third and another in the fourth frame.
Down 2-0, Tarulli-Fisher and Sandy Vojik gave the Blue Demon fans something to cheer about with two outs in the fifth inning. With runners on first and second Tarulli-Fisher lined a shot over the centerfield wall to give DePaul a 3-2 lead. Vojik followed suit with a solo home run to give the Blue Demons a two run advantage.
The advantage did not last long as the Bulldogs quieted the DePaul cheering section when they tied the game in the bottom of fifth frame. Alisa Goler knocked a bases loaded two-RBI single to left field to knot the ballgame at four.
Four straight singles led off the Blue Demon seventh as they took a 5-4 lead on Tarulli-Fisher's fourth RBI of the game. With the bases juiced, Marcy Wilus drew a walk to give DePaul a 6-4 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.
DePaul's fielding woes continued in the seventh as Georgia was able to score its final run of the game. Frankiewicz walked the Bulldogs lead off batter Sojourner Moody which prompted DePaul head coach Eugene Lenti to go his All-American Becca Heteniak. The Blue Demons committed two fielding errors to place Moody at third and leave the bases loaded for Goler with one out. Goler sent a sacfrice fly to center field that would score Moody and leave runners at the corners for Melissa Wood.
Heteniak proved to be too much for Wood as she struck her out to end the ballgame and earn the save.
Kate Gaskill (1-1) took the loss for the Bulldogs.
The Blue Demons return to the field on Sunday for the final day of the Red and Black Showcase. DePaul faces Marshall at 9 a.m. and the College of Charleston at 11 a.m.
