DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Western Carolina
Softball Opens Weekend with 7-5 Win Over Western Carolina
2/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
Feb. 14, 2014
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Senior pitcher Hannah Penna won her first game of the season and classmate Megan Coronado knocked in a pair as DePaul survived a late rally by Western Carolina to win 7-5 in the opening game of the College of Charleston Classic on Friday at Patriots Point Athletics Complex.
The Blue Demons (4-2) used a four-run third inning to win their third straight while spoiling the Catamounts' (0-1) season opener. Senior Allie Braden tied a game-high with a pair of hits, while Coronado led the game with two RBI. Dylan Christensen, Micah Fitzgerald, Brittany Boesel and Gena Lenti also recorded RBIs for DePaul.
Penna (1-1) pitched six innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out 11 to win for the first time in 2014.
DePaul got the scoring going quickly as Braden led off the game with a base hit and later came around to score on a wild pitch. After Verdun walked and Christensen was hit by a pitch, Coronado worked a bases-loaded walk to plate Connolly.
In the bottom of the third, DePaul added more as Christensen doubled in Cherelle Chambers after back-to-back walks began the inning. Boesel followed by sneaking a single through the left side to bring Staci Bonezek around and make it a 4-0 Blue Demon lead.
Back-to-back fielder's choice plays forced by Lenti and Fitzgerald plated two more to increase the lead to 6-0 after three innings of play. DePaul then added its final run in the fourth after Coronado cracked her first career triple to score Christensen.
WCU added two runs in the fifth and made it 7-4 with another pair in the sixth. With the bases loaded and just one out in the sixth, Penna was able to slam the door on a potential big rally with a strike out and lineout. Kirsten Verdun entered in the seventh to finish the game.
Notes: DePaul won its third straight game… Coronado's triple was the first for DePaul this season and the first in her career… Penna's strikeout total (11) was one short of a career-high set on March 29, 2013 against Pittsburgh… Lenti and Coronado's RBIs were their first of the season... Verdun's appearance was her 121st, tying her for fourth all-time in school history with Tracie Adix (121, 2004-07)...
