DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Long Beach State
DePaul Can't Deliver in Opportune Moments
3/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
March 19, 2011
FULLERTON, Calif. - All DePaul needed was one clutch hit to lift this team out of its downward spiral.
Instead, the Blue Demons stranded 12 runners in a 2-1 loss to Long Beach State Friday night at the Judi Garman Classic.
This was their fourth loss in a row, and that hasn't happened since April 28-May 2 of 2006 when DePaul lost six straight.
Long Beach State (17-9) gave the Blue Demons plenty of opportunities with four errors and two hit-batsmen.
Two of those errors combined with an HBP loaded the bases for DePaul (15-6) with one out in the top of the fourth inning.
Nobody crossed home plate.
The Blue Demons loaded the bases again in the bottom of the seventh courtesy of a Sean Plese single, a Lindsey Dean fielder's choice and Marla Mathews' two-out walk.
But Brittney Yniguez grounded back to the pitcher.
"We left a ton of runners on base because we couldn't come up with the timely hit," said DePaul coach Eugene Lenti. "It's been the same old story.
"Nobody is coming through when we need it the most."
It looked like the Blue Demons were ready to break it wide open in the first inning.
Alex Morocco led off the game with a double to center field and Plese beat out a bunt single. Dean singled to left field, and a subsequent error sent Morocco scampering home while Dean stopped at second base and Plese at third.
But instead of delivering an early knockout, DePaul had to settle for a solitary run as Samantha Dodd popped up, Kirsten Verdun struck out and Marla Mathews fouled out.
In the bottom of the fourth, Long Beach State combined four hits with a wild pitch and a passed ball to put a deuce on the scoreboard. Winning pitcher Erin Jones-Wesley had the game-winning RBI single.
Speaking of pitching, Lindsey Dean came up with another valiant effort after replacing starting pitcher Kirsten Verdun, who was called for two illegal pitches.
"I had to take Kirsten out, and Lindsey pitched the whole game," Lenti said. "She did a nice job. I didn't have any other options."
In the previous game, a 4-1 loss to New Mexico, Dean had tossed four innings in relief of Bree Brown and limited the Lobos to three hits and no earned runs.
The senior from Camarillo, Calif. scattered six hits in six innings of work against Long Beach State, giving up two runs with seven strikeouts.
"I'm doing everything I can to get them going," Lenti said. "I called for two slap-and-runs, and we were advancing the runners.
"What it comes down to is this: They have to get themselves out of this mess. This is what happens to teams that don't have any leadership.
"Our seniors have to play like they're supposed to and bring things together."
DePaul's final game of the Judi Garman Classic is at 1 p.m. Saturday against No. 7/7 Arizona (24-6).
NOTES: Dean has been the saving grace of this tournament for the Blue Demons... she has pitched 14 innings and allowed 10 hits but only two earned runs for an ERA of 1.00 with 15 strikeouts and nine walks... offensively, Morocco is 5-for-11 at the Classic and Dodd is 4-for-13... Plese, Yniguez and Dean each have a pair of hits... when DePaul faces Arizona on Saturday, Blue Demon pitching coach Nancy Evans will be going against her former coach, Mike Candrea... Evans was an All-American pitcher and NCAA Player of the Year at Arizona and helped lead the Wildcats to three national titles... she was also an assistant coach under Candrea and helped guide the team to three more national championships... Plese leads the Blue Demons with a .444 batting average and Morocco is second at .405... Morocco leads the team in hits with 30 and runs with 12... Dodd is batting .343, Dean .333 and Verdun .278 with a team-high four home runs and 13 RBIs... when DePaul lost six in a row back in the 2006 season, the Blue Demons were swept in double-headers by Louisville, USF and Northwestern.
