Heteniak Pushes DePaul Past Northwestern, Forces Game Two
5/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
EVANSTON, Ill. DePaul All-American Becca Heteniak got things done at the plate and in the circle as the No. 19/21 DePaul softball team forced an if-necessary game with a 3-2 game one victory at the NCAA Evanston Regional on Sunday. The Blue Demons improve to 51-17, while the Wildcats fall to 39-14. Game two between the Wildcats and Blue Demons begins at 2:30 p.m.
Heteniak got the start in the circle, but was replaced by Lindsey Dean in the top of fourth. With the game on the line in the seventh, Heteniak knocked in the game-winning run and then faced Northwestern’s final batter to pick up her fourth save of the season.
After seeing Northwestern starter Lauren Delaney on Saturday, Amber Patton led off the ballgame with a double to left center and Sean Plese reached on an infield single. With runners on first and third, Plese was called out for leaving early and Sandy Vojik struck out for the second out of the ballgame. Jackie Tarulli-Fisher battled to a 2-2 count before grounding out to third to end DePaul’s scoring threat.
After being called out for leaving early, Plese made a great defensive play to begin the bottom of the first. With Jordan Wheeler leading off for the Wildcats, she slapped a ball to foul territory in shallow left field and with Plese on the run; she caught the ball at the fence. Following the fantastic play, Northwestern put two runners on the basepath with a single and walk, but Heteniak got Nicole Pauly to strikeout and the next batter to fly out to left.
A pair of Northwestern errors allowed Lauren Frankiewicz and Marcy Wilus to reach and with one out, but Delaney would strike out the next two Blue Demon batters to leave the pair stranded.
The top of the lineup came to the plate in the top of the third and Patton and Plese got their job done. Patton reached on a full count walk and Plese fooled the infield and reached on her second hit of the ballgame. DePaul’s number three and four batters could not get it done as they both popped out with Patton getting doubled off at second on Tarulli-Fisher’s line out.
Northwestern’s first batter, Darcy Sengewald reached on throwing error by DePaul shortstop Tara Voss and one out later Williams launched a home run over the centerfield fence for the first runs of the ballgame.
In the top of the fourth, Dean (9-3) entered the circle for the Blue Demons. After giving up a lead off single to Kelly Dyer; Dean retired the next three batters to leave Dyer on the basepath.
DePaul’s left handed batters got the Blue Demons started in the top of the fifth. Alex Morocco took a five-pitch walk and Patton singled to left before Plese moved both runners with a sacrifice hit. With two outs, Tarulli-Fisher fouled off four straight pitches before she ripped a two RBI single to right center to knot the ballgame at two.
Tarulli-Fisher’s RBI knock stopped Delaney’s 40-inning scoreless streak she had not allowed a run since May 4 against Michigan.
With the score tied and the top of the Blue Demon order up in the seventh inning, Patton ripped her third hit of the afternoon to left. Patton then moved to second on a Plese sacrifice and stole third to place herself 60 feet from home. With two outs, Tarulli-Fisher drew a five pitch walk to place runners at first and third to set the stage for Heteniak’s game-winner. Heteniak smashed a RBI single to right center to give the Blue Demons their first lead of the ballgame.
Northwestern made it interesting in the bottom half of the seventh as Sengewald led off the frame with a single up the middle. Ashley Lafever pinch ran for Sengewald and was called out at second for interference and Williams grounded out to second. With the tying run 60 feet from home, Bats took a four-pitch walk, which prompted DePaul head coach Eugene Lenti to call for his ace Heteniak to return to the circle. Heteniak got Nicole Pauly to strike out and force a game two.
Delaney (36-9) suffered the loss, her first since losing to Alabama at the DePaul Invitational on April 29. Delaney struck out seven, walked four and scattered eight hits.
Dean picked up the win for DePaul and improved to 9-3 on the season; she was in the circle for three and two thirds. Dean allowed four hits and walked two.
Patton led the Blue Demons with a 3-for-3 effort and with her first hit of the ballgame she set DePaul’s single season record for hits. She enters game two with 85 hits this season.
The Blue Demons have advanced to the Regional Finale in four of the last five years. DePaul advanced to the Super Regional and Women’s College World Series in 2005 and 2007.