DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Georgetown
Brown Puts Her Spin on Georgetown Win
4/6/2012 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
April 6, 2012
WASHINGTON, D.C. - You can't be sure from just one game, but it certainly appears that Bree Brown is back.
The junior right-hander had one of her best outings of the season Friday, firing a two-hitter in DePaul's 4-0 victory over Georgetown.
That gave the Blue Demons (20-12, 4-1 in the BIG EAST) a conference doubleheader sweep after Kirsten Verdun and Hannah Penna combined on a five-hitter during a 4-0 win in game one.
"I had good spin on the ball and Georgetown was popping up a lot," said Brown, who improved to 5-3 on the season and lowered her ERA from 3.11 to 2.69. "My backdoor curve and riseball were my most effective pitches."
Brown was dominant in her freshman season and was named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year.
She gave up four runs on 10 hits in her last outing---a 4-3 loss to then-No. 11 Louisville. In her last start before the Louisville game, Brown was hit for four runs and four hits by then-No. 1 Alabama in one inning.
"We made some adjustments to Bree's pitching," said DePaul coach Eugene Lenti. "We had her pitch with more of an upright stance. She was too bent over, and the body was working against itself.
"Bree worked hard on that new stance all week."
Kirsten Verdun provided all the runs Brown would need when she smacked a home run over the left-field fence in the third inning after Lynsey Ciezki had been hit by Georgetown starting pitcher Lauren O'Leary.
That was Verdun's team-leading eighth home run of the season.
For added insurance, the Blue Demons added two more runs in the seventh inning. Allie Braden was hit by a pitch and stole second base. Samantha Dodd drilled an RBI single to center field.
Lynsey Ciezki singled off the pitcher, and both runners advanced on Verdun's fly ball. Katelyn Braget came through with a single to center that scored Dodd, but Ciezki was thrown out at the plate.
Brown's dominance on the mound was the story of the day.
"Those changes made a difference in my pitching today," Brown said. "I had more balance, and it was easier to bring the ball through. You get better spin when you're more balanced.
"The offensive support was really great, and I felt a lot better mentally and physically. I hope this continues for the rest of the season."
That would give the Blue Demons a formidable one-two punch in the most important aspect of the game.
"It was a good day for our pitching and defense," Lenti said in assessing the sweep. "We had some quality at-bats offensively, but could have done a lot more.
"Verdun pitched well in the first game, and we were in control the whole way."
DePaul returns to Mason Field for a noon game Saturday that wraps up the three-game series against Georgetown (15-22, 0-5).
NOTES: Verdun extended her hitting streak to six games with a home run and a double... she was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one run... Verdun was 3-for-6 on the day and leads the team with eight home runs and 32 RBIs... Brown was 2-for-5 in the doubleheader... Braget went 2-for-6 in the twin bill with two RBIs and one run... Dodd was 2-for-7 with an RBI and two runs... Ciezki was 2-for-7 with two runs... Connolly was 1-for-6 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored... on the season, Dodd leads the team with a .383 batting average and is tied with Verdun for the lead in hits with 36... Verdun is tops in home runs, RBIs (32)... Ciezki (.299) is first in runs with 24... Connolly is batting .289 with 20 RBIs... Braget is second in home runs with six and has 18 RBIs... Verdun is 12-6 from the circled with a 1.85 ERA... Hannah Penna is 3-2 with a 2.94 ERA.
