DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
USF
USF Snaps DePaul's 16-Game Winning Streak
5/7/2011 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
May 7, 2011
CHICAGO, Ill. - It was a very special day Saturday as the new Cacciatore Stadium was formally dedicated to Vic and Char Cacciatore and family.
Unfortunately for the home team, the occasion also marked the end of DePaul's 16-game winning streak as the Blue Demons fell to BIG EAST Conference rival USF 4-2 in the opener of a doubleheader.
Down 4-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, DePaul (36-12, 17-2 in the BIG EAST) almost pulled it out. Megan Coronado led off with a single, and after two outs, Alex Morocco walked.
Sean Plese hit a single to right field and Coronado scored on an error. Representing the winning run, Kirsten Verdun hit a shot over the left-field fence, but it tailed foul. Verdun wound up grounding out.
Plese made a diving catch in foul territory for the third out in the top of the first.
USF ace Sara Nevins struck out two in the bottom of the first.
It was a pitcher's battle early as neither DePaul starter Lindsey Dean nor Nevins gave up a hit in the first two innings.
Kelly McCarver led off the third for USF with the first hit of the game.
What followed was one of the toughest innings for the Blue Demons in the last 16 games.
Two errors, a walk and Kourtney Salvarola's two-run double gave the Bulls a 4-0 lead. It's one of the few times since March 30th that DePaul had a four-run deficit early in the game.
DePaul had runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the third when Sean Plese popped up a bunt attempt and Alex Morocco was doubled off first.
Samantha Dodd hit a one-out double in the fourth, but was stranded on second base.
Bree Brown came on in relief in the fifth for the Blue Demons. The sophomore right-hander struck out seven of the first nine batters she faced.
The Blue Demons had runners on first and third with one out in the sixth when Brown struck out swinging but Dodd stole second base. An error on USF catcher Laura Fountain's throw allowed pinch-runner Mckenzie Madigan to score.
DePaul faced USF in the second game of the doubleheader.
