DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Cruises to Game One Victory over Illinois
4/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
CHICAGO Becca Heteniak knocked a pair of home runs and picked up the win in the circle as No. 23 DePaul cruised to a 7-2 victory over Illinois at Cacciatore Stadium on Tuesday. The Blue Demons improve to 33-14, while the Illini slide to 27-25.
The Blue Demons tallied 10 hits in the win with Heteniak leading the charge with a 3-for-3 effort and four RBI. Jackie Tarulli-Fisher added two RBI while Amber Patton added one. In the circle, Hetenaik (18-6) struck out seven and walked one in her 19th complete game of the season.
Illinois got on the board early when Lana Armstrong knocked a two-RBI triple off of the centerfield wall. The Illini capitalized on a dropped ball at first base and Angelia Mexicano singled to place runners on first and second for Armstrong.
Heteniak helped her own cause with a two-run home run in the bottom half of the first to knot the game at two apiece. Heteniak’s long ball scored Patton, who singled to begin the frame.
Heteniak and Patton teamed-up to put another run on the board in the third. After Patton reached on a single up the middle, Heteniak singled to centerfield for her third RBI of the afternoon.
Still in the fourth, Tarulli-Fisher knocked her sixth home run of the season over the center field wall to give the Blue Demons a 5-2 lead heading into the top of the fourth.
Heteniak smashed her second home run of the game in the fifth; a solo shot that sailed over the left field bleachers.
The Blue Demons added their final run in the sixth on Patton’s bases loaded groundout.
Claire DeVreese (19-17) suffered the loss and threw five innings before being replaced by Christine Christopoulos. DeVreese scattered eight hits and allowed six runs.
The Blue Demons and Illini finish their doubleheader later this evening.
