DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Top Connecticut, Advance to Championship Game
5/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The No. 20/23 DePaul Softball team advanced to the BIG EAST Conference Championship game by defeating Connecticut 4-3 in the semifinal game at Louisville’s Ulmer Stadium.
The Blue Demons improve to 47-16 behind the bat of Amber Patton. Patton, who leads the squad with a .408 average, went 2-for-4 on day.
UConn got on the board early as three singles, a wild pitch, pass ball and walk equaled a 2-0 Huskies advantage heading into the top of the second.
The Blue Demons took three free passes to begin the second. With the bases juiced, Connecticut made an early pitching change swapping Rachel Crossin for starter Tricia Sullivan.
Facing Sullivan in the circle, Sean Plese battled to a full count before she slapped a single to right to put DePaul on the board. With the top of the line-up at the plate and the bases still loaded Patton rocked a double to left center to give the Blue Demons a 3-2 advantage. Marcy Wilus took a four-pitch walk to load the bases for the third time in the inning, this time for Sandy Vojik. Vojik would groundout, but not without picking up her 30th RBI of the season.
Connecticut threatened to score in the bottom of the second. With one out, Meghan Tierney dribbled an infield single and DePaul starter Becca Heteniak walked Jillian Ortega. With runners on first and second, Allie Gendron lined a shot up the middle that would ricochet off Hetneiak’s head but into the glove shortstop Tara Voss, who was able to double off, Tierney at second.
Heteniak returned to the circle in the third and retired the UConn batters in order.
With both Heteniak and Crossin throwing well, the Blue Demons would hold onto their 4-2 lead until Gendron knocked a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. The Huskies next batter, doubled to left center, but Heteniak would strike out the BIG EAST Player of the Year, Michah Trauk to end the game.
Heteniak threw her 27th complete game of the season and improved to 30-6. The sophomore All-American and BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year, struck out seven, walked two and scattered nine hits in the win.
Sullivan (15-11) was tagged for the loss; she struck out two and walked three in one and a third innings. Crossin logged five and two thirds innings; she fanned four, walked one and allowed four hits.
Connecticut finishes its season 28-22.
A member of the BIG EAST since 2004-05, the Blue Demons will make their first appearance in the Championship game. In 2005 and 2006, they lost in the semifinal round.
The Blue Demons will face USF in the Championship game on Saturday, May 10 at 4 p.m.(CST). The game will be broadcast live on CBS-CS with Ann Shatz and Jason Knapp handling the announcing duties.
