DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Memphis
Mathews Does the Heavy Lifting for DePaul
2/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
Feb. 11, 2011
MIAMI - With one swing of the bat, Marla Mathews breathed new life into her team.
DePaul had fallen behind by three runs right from the start, but Mathews' three-run home run and five total RBIs lifted the Blue Demons to a wild 6-5 victory over Memphis Friday in the FIU Combat Classic at Florida International.
"It was a wild game," said DePaul coach Eugene Lenti, "reminiscent of the 1983 White Sox.
"Just call us the `Winning Ugly Blue Demons'"
Opening the Classic with back-to-back games, DePaul began with a 3-0 win against North Florida.
About 25 minutes later, Memphis greeted Blue Demons starting pitcher Bree Brown with a three-run first inning, courtesy of a Heather Mott solo home run and a two-run blast from Jessica Phillips.
It was in the bottom of the third inning that Mathews began to hoist her teammates onto her shoulders.
After Alex Morocco had reached on an error and Kirsten Verdun had walked, Mathews blasted a Janelle Valle delivery beyond the left-center field fence.
"It felt great because my swing had been a little off in the first game," Mathews said. "I knew it had the height, and I was hoping it had the distance.
"After it went over the fence, I thought: `Thank goodness. We needed that.'"
An inning later, Samantha Dodd opened with a bunt single and Katelyn Braget followed with a base hit before Sean Plese ran for her. A Lauren Carley wild pitch brought Dodd home. Morocco reached on a fielder's choice and Verdun walked.
Mathews' RBI walk gave DePaul a 5-3 lead.
But no lead was safe in this one. Phillips hit her second two-run homer of the game in the sixth to deadlock everything at 5-5.
In the bottom half of the inning, a Sean Plese infield single and walks to Lynsey Ciezki and Verdun set the stage for Mathews again.
This time, the junior catcher literally took one for the team, getting hit by a pitch from reliever Carly Hummel that brought in Plese with the eventual winning run.
"She stood right in there and took it," Lenti said. "Now, she can roll up her sleeve and tell people: `This is the bruise that helped my team win a game.'"
Mathews was given some good advice before the winning at-bat.
"I was told the pitcher liked to pitch tight on the inside," Mathews said. "I have no problem taking one. Sure enough, it came up and in. I turned away from it and got hit in the shoulder blade.
"I hope it's a good bruise."
Mathews was impressed with Verdun's pitching debut against North Florida, a one-hitter.
"She came out strong and was hitting her spots," said Mathews, who caught both games. "And it really pumped the team up when she hit the (two-run) home run.
"We each have one now. Maybe it will turn into a little home run contest. As long as it's good for the team---let's keep hitting them."
DePaul (2-0) takes on the host school and 2010 NCAA tournament qualifier Florida International at 1 p.m. Saturday. That's followed by a 5 p.m. matchup against NCAA tournament qualifier Kentucky.
NOTES: Mathews was officially 1-for-1 with the three-run homer and career-high five RBIs... she walked twice and was hit by a pitch once... Memphis pitchers issued eight walks--- three to Verdun, two each to Mathews and Ciezki and one to Brittney Yniguez... Plese was 1-for-2 and scored twice while Morocco, Verdun, Mathews and Dodd each scored once... Dodd had the only multi-hit game, going 2-for-3... the sophomore outfielder was 3-for-6 on the day... in two pinch-hit appearances Friday, the productive Braget had a hit and a walk... four DePaul freshman saw action in the opening two games... Verdun started both games while Allie Braden started at second base against Memphis... Braden got her first collegiate hit with a pinch-hit single against North Florida... Verdun registered her first win and also recorded her first hit, home run, RBI and run against North Florida... Megan Coronado got her first collegiate start against N. Florida... Mackenzie Madigan made her first appearance in a college game when she ran for Mathews in the Memphis game... DePaul will face NCAA tournament qualifiers Florida International, Kentucky and Ohio State in its final three games of the Combat Classic.
