DePaul University Athletics
It's Crunch Time for Blue Demons' Softball Team
4/23/2013 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
April 23, 2013
ESPN3 St. John's Doubleheader: Game One | Game Two
CHICAGO - Welcome to crunch time, where the next five days will have quite an impact on DePaul's softball season.
Beginning with a noon doubleheader Wednesday at St. John's, the Blue Demons will play six games in those five days---including five in the BIG EAST Conference.
Loyola Chicago (23-15) comes to Cacciatore Stadium at 4 p.m. on Thursday for a nonconference matchup that sets the stage for a weekend showdown against Notre Dame (33-10, 13-1 in the BIG EAST) beginning with a noon doubleheader on Saturday.
After Sunday's game against the Fighting Irish, Bree Brown, Samantha Dodd and Ali Warren will be honored during a special Senior Day ceremony.
DePaul (24-16, 11-3) is looking to go on a late run with just 11 games left in the regular season.
"We have to take care of St. John's and Loyola before we can think about Notre Dame," said DePaul coach Eugene Lenti. "St. John's is a big series for us, and our team needs to keep getting better at the things we do well. Our pitching has to eliminate the walks, hit-batsmen and home runs.
"You're okay with one of them, but you can't have them coming together. We've hit batters and issued walks that were followed by a home run. You can't have that combination working against you.
"When that happens, teams are not earning all their runs against us. We're starting their offense for them. Walks, hit-batsmen and home runs were involved in just about every run USF scored over the weekend."
Losing two of three to No. 24/24 USF has the Blue Demons primed to bounce back in Queens, N.Y.
"We need to give ourselves a chance to defend the ball," Lenti said. "Lately, our defense has played solidly with just two errors in the last seven games.
"Offensively over the weekend, we had our opportunities against one of the best pitchers (Sara Nevins) in the BIG EAST. When you get scoring chances against a good team like USF, you have to take advantage of them.
"A lack of quality at-bats hurt us as we kept going after the pitcher's pitch. We didn't put the ball in play at the right times. You can't play that way against the good teams."
St. John's (12-31-1, 3-11) will be looking to snap an eight-game losing streak in the BIG EAST behind an offense featuring Jackie Reed (.385), Chrissy Montez (.373, 13 home runs, 30 RBIs) and Erin Burner (.325, 32 RBIs). The Red Storm has a 4.15 team earned-run average and has committed 61 errors that have resulted in 65 unearned runs.
DePaul began the week first in the BIG EAST in home runs and second in RBIs, hits and total bases in conference games. Samantha Dodd and Mary Connolly were tied for the league lead in hits and Kirsten Verdun led the conference in walks. Connolly was second in batting average, RBIs and total bases.
North Side rival Loyola is led by former Antioch star Lauren Moore (.341, 11 home runs, 36 RBIs), ex-Fremd standout Lauren Zaworksi (.340) and former Downers Grove South great Brooke Andresen (.333).
The Rambers' ace is former Sandburg star Brittany Gardner (12-7, 2.23 ERA). Loyola has won seven of its last nine games.
Notre Dame came into the week holding onto second place in the BIG EAST and riding a seven-game winning streak.
"This is crunch time for us if we want to make the NCAA tournament," Lenti said. "We need to win every game we can for an at-large berth. Our players know the season is winding down.
"Every time out is like the what-if game in the NCAA tournament. It's time to leave it all on the line."
