DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Rutgers
Blue Demons Fight Back, Beat Rutgers for Sixth Straight Win
2/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
Feb. 22, 2014
CLEARWATER, Fla. - DePaul softball won its sixth straight in comeback fashion, beating another former BIG EAST Conference rival, Rutgers, 10-6 in its third game at the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Saturday at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.
Four different Blue Demons recorded two RBI, including freshman Dylan Christensen -- who plated the tying run in the fifth -- and Allie Braden, whose two-run single gave DePaul its first lead of the game after DePaul trailed 5-1 after the first two frames. Seniors Megan Coronado and Hannah Penna also knocked in two runs for DePaul.
The Blue Demons (10-3) stayed perfect at this weekend's tournament behind some solid relief pitching by Penna, who improved to 3-1 on the season and fired the final 5.1 innings. The senior allowed just one earned run, while striking out six and going 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI.
An RBI double by Christensen in the second got DePaul on the board, but the Blue Demons trailed 5-1 after two full innings as Rutgers scored its five runs on just three hits.
In the top of the third, DePaul started its comeback with a three run half-inning to get back within one run. Micah Fitzgerald scored on an error by the Scarlet Knights and Penna followed with a two-run single up the middle to make it a 5-4 game.
The Blue Demons then made their move in the fifth, plating another three to take the lead for good. Staci Bonezek started the rally with a one-out single and a steal before Christensen brought her around with a base hit. Later, with runners on second and third, Braden knocked in two more with a single to left center and made it a 7-5 DePaul lead.
The offense kept coming an inning later as the Blue Demons increased their lead to 9-4 on a two-run single by Coronado. Fitzgerald then scored DePaul's final run in the top of the seventh on a throwing error.
DePaul returns to the diamond for its final game of the day at 1:30 p.m. CT, facing College of Charleston for the second time in as many weekends.
Notes: DePaul won its sixth straight and improved to 3-0 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic... Penna finished her second consecutive game in relief... the win was the 15th of her career... the 10 runs were a season-high for DePaul... the last time DePaul scored 10 or more was April 24, 2013 at St. John's... Fitzgerald's three hits were a season-high... Christensen's two RBI were a season-high... DePaul improved to 2-3 overall when its opponent scores first... Nicole Pihl extended her hitting streak to six straight games... Verdun extended her reached base streak to 10 straight games...
