DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
USF
Yniguez, Morgan Lift No. 25 DePaul to Title
2/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
Feb. 20, 2011
CLEARWATER, Fla. - When the opportunity arose on Sunday, the Blue Demons went all in.
Behind home runs by Brittney Yniguez and Samantha Morgan, No. 25 DePaul knocked off USF 4-2 to capture the USF Tournament title.
The Blue Demons finished the tournament with a 4-1 record. For any chance to finish on top, they needed Fordham (3-1 after Saturday's action) to lose on Sunday against UAB.
Fordham had beaten DePaul on Saturday night and would have claimed the title with a victory over the Blazers.
UAB obliged with a 2-0 win.
DePaul coach Eugene Lenti informed his players before the USF game of the stakes.
"That gave us motivation," Yniguez said. "Winning a tournament is what you play for, and it all came together---the hitting, pitching and defense."
Yniguez is hoping her fourth-inning blast over the center-field fence will extricate the senior shortstop from a slow start.
"I came up with the bases loaded in the first inning and popped up," Yniguez said. "In my next at-bat, I was focused on just hitting a line drive.
"I saw it go over the fence while rounding first base, and it was awesome. I've struggled early the last two years, and I'm trying not to get down on myself.
"I didn't start hitting well last year until near the end of the nonconference season."
Yniguez finished strong in 2010, batting .281 with seven home runs and a team-leading 36 RBIs.
DePaul (8-2) padded its lead in the fifth inning beginning with Morgan's solo blast. Lynsey Ciezki singled and scored after Alex Morocco's bunt single and an overthrow by USF catcher Stormi Grzybek. Winning pitcher Kirsten Verdun's single to center field brought in Morocco.
Verdun (4-1) went the distance, limiting the Bulls to two runs on five hits while striking out five and walking two.
USF (5-5) scored once in the bottom of the fifth on Ashli Goff's RBI double. The Bulls added a run in the sixth on Laura Fountain's RBI triple.
"After giving up those runs, Verdun buckled down and had a smooth seventh inning," Lenti said. "We hit those two home runs and scored with some small ball."
The Blue Demons prevailed in Florida despite being shorthanded. Allie Braden and Ali Warren were sidelined by the flu and Sean Plese is out with an injury.
"It was a good road trip, and we were one step away from a great trip," Lenti said. "I'd say going 8-2 in the early season is a solid start.
"Every team is going to be missing players at various times. Winning in spite of that just shows our depth."
The Blue Demons will have 12 days to recover as they don't play again until March 4th at the Nevada Reno Tournament.
NOTES: Morocco and Verdun were nominated for BIG EAST Conference weekly awards... Morocco was eligible for Player of the Week after batting .389 in five games at USF with four RBIs, a double, triple and one run scored... Verdun went 3-0 with a 1.21 earned-run average... the freshman lefthander gave up four earned run and 14 hits in 22 innings with 21 strikeouts, seven walks and one shutout... Verdun also hit .300 at USF with two doubles, three runs, one RBI and four walks... Morgan had a home run, triple, three RBIs and one run... Yniguez had a home run, four runs and one RBI... Warren hit .288 before the illness with two RBIs and two runs... Brown hit a two-run homer and scored twice... in the USF game, Morocco and Ciezki each went 2-for-3 while Verdun, Yniguez and Morgan each had one hit... defensively, the Blue Demons only committed one error in five games.
