DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
UNLV
Blue Demons Drop Titan Classic Opener Against UNLV, 6-1
3/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
March 14, 2014
FULLERTON, Calif. - DePaul softball couldn't get much offense going in its weekend opener at the Titan Classic, dropping a 6-1 game against UNLV on the campus of Cal State Fullerton.
The Blue Demons (14-5) were held hitless and scoreless through four innings and trailed 3-0 before freshman Dylan Christensen belted her second home run of the season to put the team on the board.
The Runnin' Rebels answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, however, and DePaul failed to mount a comeback against UNLV starter Amanda Oliveto. The senior righty (4-8) went the distance, fanning 10 to help UNLV improve to 9-14.
Junior Mary Connolly (1-2) made the start for DePaul and pitched six innings, striking out three and allowing four earned runs.
DePaul went down in order three of the first four innings of the game, but threatened in the second after a pair of errors by the Rebels. Christensen and Morgan Maize both reached on miscues and worked their way to second and third base before Oliveto retired Gena Lenti on a grounder to end the inning.
UNLV then scored in the bottom half of the second and third, putting DePaul in a 3-0 hole. Christensen's homer to lead off the fourth would eventually represent the Blue Demons' lone hit and run.
DePaul returns to action immediately, facing Texas Tech in a nightcap with senior ace Kirsten Verdun on the mound.
Notes: The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for DePaul... the homer was the second of Christensen's collegiate career... her first came against Binghamton on March 1... it was the sixth time DePaul has been held to one run or fewer... the Blue Demons are 1-5 in those games... DePaul falls to 4-4 when its opponent scores first... Nicole Pihl went 0-for-3 to snap an 11-game reached base streak... Morgan Maize saw a six-game hitting streak come to an end... DePaul's one hit was a season-low... the last time the Blue Demons were held to one hit was April 20, 2013 vs. USF...
