DePaul Blanks Illinois, Plays Bradley Tonight
5/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
COLUMBIA, Mo. The No. 15 seeded DePaul softball team stayed alive and defeated Illinois in an elimination game, 6-0 at the NCAA Columbia Regional at Missouri’s University Field on Saturday. The Blue Demons face Bradley at 6:30 p.m. in another elimination game this evening while the winner advances to the regional final on Sunday against Missouri.
DePaul starter Becca Heteniak (25-8) and Illinois starter Monica Perry (25-15) engaged in a pitchers’ duel through four innings as the scoreboard was identical as each hurler gave up a pair of hits, but the game remained scoreless.
The Blue Demons transformed the scoreboard in the fifth as Alex Morocco led off the frame and reached on a throwing error. She moved into scoring position on Marie Thompson’s sacrifice bunt before Tara Voss was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second for outfielder Shea Warren. Warren lined a double down the right field line to post the first run of the ballgame. Jackie Tarulli-Fisher gave the Blue Demons some breathing room as her groundout scored Voss from third.
Brittney Yniguez gave the Blue Demon fans something to cheer about as she launched her third home run of the season over the left field wall. Yniguez’s long ball gave DePaul a 5-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Tarulli-Fisher put an exclamation point on the game in the seventh with her 11 home run of the season.
Heteniak earned the complete game win, she struck out seven and walked three while she allowed just three hits.
Perry suffered the loss, she threw five innings and five runs were scored while only three were earned. Christine Christopoulos closed out the game for the Illini, she was tagged with DePaul’s final run. The pair struck out five, walked two and scattered nine hits.
Hetenaik led DePaul with a 3-for-4 effort, while Yniguez was a perfect 2-for-2 with three RBI.
The Blue Demons and Bradley face for the second time in the regional this evening. The Braves sent DePaul to the loser’s bracket with a 1-0 win on Friday.