DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Take Their Five-Game Winning Streak to Alabama
3/4/2010 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
CHICAGO - Now comes the hard part.
After winning five games in a row last weekend at the Kickin' Chicken Classic in Conway, S.C., DePaul takes a big step up in competition this weekend at the Easton Challenge in Tuscaloosa, Ala. it will be Midwest teams DePaul and Michigan confront SEC teams South Carolina and Alabama.
The Blue Demons will start off against South Carolina (8-6) in a 3:30 p.m. game on Friday and then face No. 8/6 Alabama (12-3) at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
They'll have a rematch against the Gamecocks Saturday night and take on the Crimson Tide again on Sunday.
"We're aware there was a difference in the level of competition between our Texas trip (three ranked teams) and the one to South Carolina (no ranked teams)," said DePaul coach Eugene Lenti. "We're playing with more confidence, and now we've got to bring that level of confidence from our last trip to Alabama."
After going 1-4 at the Time Warner Cable Invitational Feb. 12-14 in Austin Texas, the Blue Demons went 5-0 in South Carolina.
"They are all feeling better about themselves," Lenti said. "There's nothing like winning to soothe all the pain.
"We were better in every aspect. Our offense has gotten better, and we scored more runs. The pitching has been real solid lately."
Leading the way in the circle was Becca Heteniak, who was named BIG EAST Conference Pitcher of the Week after going 3-0 last weekend with a 0.00 earned-run average and 29 strikeouts in 21 innings.
She came within two outs of pitching a no-hitter in a 4-0 victory over Jacksonville.
"I've got to give credit to my catcher, Simone Ashkar," Heteniak said about the junior who was named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll. "She did a really good job of framing the pitches, and that helped us get a lot of calls."
Lenti realizes how important his pitching staff will be in Alabama.
"It will all start with the pitching," he said. "Becca, Lindsey Dean and Bree Brown will all have to throw well for us.
"Offensively, I'm looking towards players like Becca, Simone, Alex (Morocco), Tara (Voss) and Marla (Mathews) to lead our team."
Heteniak is batting a team-high .417 and also leads in hits with 10 and on-base percentage (.622). Ashkar (.321) has a team-high eight RBI and is second in hits with nine. Voss is batting .353, Morocco .333 and Mathews .313. Mathews leads the team in slugging percentage at .750.
Dean is 2-0 with a BIG EAST-leading 0.47, and opponents are hitting just .151 against her. Heteniak is 3-3 with a 1.65 ERA and a .172 opponents' batting average. Brown is 1-1 with a 3.06 ERA and a .258 opponents' batting average.
They will need to have their best stuff against the Crimson Tide, who are led by Kayla Braud (.487, seven stolen bases) and Cassie Reilly-Bocci (.444). Alabama's fearsome foursome of Whitney Larsen, Alex Blewitt, Jazlyn Lunceford and Charlotte Morgan has combined for 10 home runs and 46 RBI. Jennifer Fenton has 10 stolen bases.
Alabama ace Kelsi Dunne is 5-2 with a 2.24 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 43.2 innings.
"This is a very good Alabama team," Lenti said. "They are among the top teams in the country. They have it all---great team speed, pitching, offense and defense.
"We have played a lot of top-ranked teams over the years, but we're not intimidated by anyone. We know we can play against the best teams, and that we will have success."
