DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
College of Charleston
Softball Splits Day One at College of Charleston Classic
2/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
Feb. 14, 2014
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Staci Bonezek hit a solo homer in the seventh inning, but DePaul softball couldn't muster much offense in a 3-1 loss to hosting College of Charleston on Friday at Patriots Point Athletic Complex.
DePaul (4-3) will be back in action at the College of Charleston Classic tomorrow, facing Ole Miss at 10:00 a.m. CT.
The College of Charleston (2-2) defeated Western Carolina 4-0 earlier in the day as runs were tough to come by against the host school. The Cougars picked up runs in the first and fourth on doubles, while junior starter Hope Klicker was effective in seven innings of four-hit ball with seven strikeouts.
Aside from Bonezek's late homer, the Blue Demons managed just three other hits by Kirsten Verdun, Allie Braden and Micah Fitzgerald.
Verdun (3-1) was defeated for the first time in the circle, tossing six innings and allowing three earned runs to go with nine strikeouts.
Despite a tough night offensively, DePaul had multiple scoring opportunities beginning in the first inning after a single by Fitzgerald. With two outs, Verdun reached on a dropped third strike and advanced on a passed ball to put runners at second and third. Bonezek hit a two-out rocket to third, but a nice defensive play kept the Blue Demons off the scoreboard early.
The Blue Demons had a runner in scoring position again in the third after a one-out double by Braden, but a ground out and strike out ended the threat.
In the fourth, Verdun connected on a leadoff single to left field. Pinch runner Cherelle Chambers then advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved up again on a sacrifice bunt by Bonezek. The scoring opportunity was snuffed out, however, on a fielder's choice play that saw Chambers gunned down at the plate.
DePaul went down 1-2-3 in the fifth and sixth before getting Bonezek's leadoff home run in the seventh inning.
Notes: Bonezek's home run was the first by a DePaul player in 2014 and eighth of her career... the loss snaps a three-game win streak... Verdun lost for the first time this season after winning her first three starts... the three earned runs were the most allowed by Verdun this season... Braden and Fitzgerald both extended hitting streaks to four games... Bonezek has reached base in five straight games...
