DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
LSU
Brown Rises Up to Topple No. 24 LSU
2/18/2012 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
Feb. 18, 2012
LAS VEGAS - Bree Brown looked like her old self on Saturday.
DePaul's junior pitcher held No. 24 Louisiana State to two hits in a 3-1 victory at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic as the Blue Demons improved to 5-3 on the season.
Brown exhibited the kind of dominance that earned her the 2010 BIG EAST Conference Rookie of the Year award in her freshman season.
She went the distance, giving up one unearned run while finishing with five strikeouts and one walk.
The only time LSU really made solid contact was a two-out double by Juliana Santos in the bottom of the sixth inning that led to its only score. One batter later, a Blue Demon error allowed Santos to cross home plate.
Fortunately, DePaul had scored first in the top of the fourth inning. Kirsten Verdun singled to right field and advanced to third on an error. Megan Coronado brought Verdun home with a double to center field.
After the Tigers tied it, the Blue Demons put it away in the top of the seventh. Ali Warren led off, was hit by a pitch, and Katelyn Braget ran for her.
Helping her own cause, Brown reached on a bunt single. Allie Braden followed with an infield single to load the bases with no outs.
Up came leadoff batter and the team's leading hitter Lynsey Ciezki, and the senior third baseman came through with a game-winning RBI single to left. Not to be outdone, No. 2 batter Samantha Dodd ripped an RBI single to center for an insurance run.
The victory gave the Blue Demons a 2-1 record at the Desert Classic with a game against Brigham Young later on Saturday.
NOTES: Verdun, Coronado and Braden headed the Blue Demons' nine-hit attack... Coronado was 2-for-4 with an RBI and Verdun was 2-for-4 with a run... Braden was 2-for-3... Ciezki and Dodd each went 1-for-4 with one RBI apiece... Brown was 1-fr-3 with a run scored and Braget scored the third run... Brown improved to 2-0 on the season... this was DePaul's first win this season over a Top 25 team.
