DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Florida International
Braget Leads No. 25 DePaul to Sixth in a Row
3/9/2012 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
March 9, 2012
MIAMI - There must be something about Florida that agrees with Katelyn Braget.
The senior outfielder greeted her return to the Sunshine State on Friday with a two-run home run and four RBIs in No. 25 DePaul's 7-3 victory over host Florida International at the FIU Invitational.
This was the Blue Demons' sixth win in a row and ninth in their last 10 games.
Two weeks ago, Braget hit .600 with four RBIs and two runs in helping lead her team to five consecutive wins and the NFCA Leadoff Classic title in Clearwater, Fla.
After the team was off last week, Braget resumed her Florida assault with a two-out, two-run single in the top of the first inning after starting pitcher Kirsten Verdun and clean-up hitter Mary Connolly had walked.
DePaul (12-4) scored three times in the second inning after Bree Brown (walk), Staci Bonezek (single) and Lynsey Ciezki (hit by pitcher) had loaded the bases.
Samantha Dodd came through with a one-out, RBI single to center field. Following a Verdun fly-out, Connolly delivered a two-run single.
Verdun rippled a clutch two-out single to left in the top of the fourth and Braget unloaded with her second homer of the season, clearing the fence in left-center.
Braget added a single and a walk to her impressive game. That means in the six games she has played in Florida, Braget is 9-for-18 (.500) with eight RBIs and three runs scored.
This six-game stretch is exactly what DePaul coach Eugene Lenti has been anticipating ever since recruiting Braget out of Lockport High School where she was one of the most dangerous hitters in the Chicago area.
Winning pitcher Verdun (7-2) scattered nine hits and came up with the clutch out in every inning but the fourth. That's when FIU (7-12) scored three times on Jessy Alonso's RBI single and Rachel Slowik's two-run single.
The Blue Demons went after seven in a row against Delaware on Friday afternoon in game two of the FIU Invitational.
NOTES: Along with Braget's three hits, DePaul's eight-hit attack included one hit each from Connolly, Dodd, Ciezki, Verdun, and Bonezek... Connolly had two RBIs and Dodd one RBI... Verdun scored twice while Braget, Connolly, Ciezki, Bonezek and Brown each scored once... Ciezki extended her hitting streak to seven games and has reached base 10 games in a row... Dodd has a six-game hitting streak and Connolly has hit safely in the last five games... Verdun went the distance, giving up three runs on nine hits with six strikeouts and three walks.
