DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Georgetown
Big Inning Lifts DePaul to Series Sweep
4/7/2012 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
April 7, 2012
WASHINGTON - The bases were loaded with two out, and Mary Connolly focused on hitting the first good pitch she saw.
That turned out to be a bases-clearing single and an error that launched DePaul to an 8-1 BIG EAST Conference victory over Georgetown on Saturday.
Katelyn Braget followed with a two-run home run as the Blue Demons pushed across six runs in the decisive fifth inning.
"Eug (DePaul coach Eugene Lenti) always tells us to hit the first good pitch when the bases are loaded," Connolly said. "My teammates ahead of me (Lynsey Ciezki, Samantha Dodd) had good at-bats, and I could see what the relief pitcher (Megan Hyson) was throwing. I knew what to look for when I came up."
After spotting Georgetown (15-23, 0-6 in the BIG EAST) an early 1-0 lead, DePaul (21-12, 5-1) tied it in the top of the fourth on back-to-back doubles by Dodd and Kirsten Verdun.
A single by Paige Peterson and an Allie Braden double in the fifth inning put the Blue Demons in front 2-1. Ciezki fouled out and Dodd reached on an infield single. Verdun was intentionally walked in favor of Connolly.
"It was frustrating because we were hitting the ball hard, but right at someone." Connolly said. "The good thing about this team is that nobody gets down when that happens. We stay with it, and eventually the hits start going through.
"I hit mine between third base and shortstop, and all three runs came home. That fifth inning, it seemed like the whole game slowed down for us."
Capping off a big game, Connolly drilled a solo home run beyond the left-field fence off relief pitcher Lauren O'Leary in the seventh inning.
"When the pitching holds the other team down, it's just a matter of time before our offense comes through," Lenti said. "Our pitching was really solid this weekend, and Kirsten and Bree Brown were in control the whole way. Georgetown never threatened that much in all three games."
Verdun and Brown combined to give up just one run in the three-game series sweep.
On Saturday, Verdun went the distance and gave up one run on six hits with 11 strikeouts and two walks. The sophomore left-hander is now 13-6 on the season.
In her last five outings, Verdun is 4-1 with a 0.66 ERA. She has given up just three earned runs in 32 innings with 30 strikeouts and seven walks.
"Kirsten has something that a lot of other pitchers should desire to have," said Connolly, who pitches in addition to playing first base. "She has this bulldog quality in her. You can see the expression on her face saying: `I am not letting up.'
"It's something I need to learn."
The Blue Demons hope to carry this momentum into Tuesday's nonconference game at Northern Illinois in DeKalb.
NOTES: In addition to her stretch of stellar pitching, Verdun has a seven-game hitting streak... she was 1-for-3 on Saturday with an RBI and a run... Connolly, Dodd, Peterson and Braden each had two hits... Connolly had three RBIs and Braget had two RBIs with the home run... Dodd scored two runs against the Hoyas... for the three-game series, Verdun batted .444 with one home run, four RBIs and two runs... Connolly hit .300 with two home runs, five RBIs and two runs... Dodd hit .364 with four runs and one RBI... Braget batted .300 with two home runs, four RBIs and two runs scored... Verdun was 2-0 at Georgetown with a 0.58 ERA... she gave up one run in 12 innings with 14 strikeouts and four walks.
