DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Butler
Verdun Wins 100th Career Game as Softball Rolls in Regular Season Finale
5/4/2014 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
May 4, 2014
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - One day after Butler ended the fourth-longest winning streak in program history, DePaul softball used an eight-run sixth inning to exact a bit of revenge in a lopsided 13-1 road win at BU Softball Field on Sunday.
With the win, the Blue Demons cap the regular season at 39-9 and 18-1 in the BIG EAST Conference, while Butler finishes its campaign at 24-28 (10-10 BIG EAST).
In the circle, Verdun (28-5) capped an undefeated week with six innings of one-run ball to go with eight strikeouts. Her win was the 100th of her illustrious career and moved her past Becca Heteniak (99 wins, 2007-10) into sole possession of second-place in program history.
Allie Braden led the offense with a 3-for-3 afternoon at the plate, scoring twice and knocking in a pair of runs. Morgan Maize and Dylan Christensen also supplied two-hit days, as Christensen tied a career-high with four RBI. Megan Coronado had a pair of RBI and Micah Fitzgerald, Gena Lenti, Morgan Maize and Verdun all recorded one RBI apiece.
DePaul got on the board in the second when Maize doubled to right, swiped third and came around to score on a throwing error by Butler's catcher.
The Bulldogs evened the game in the third on a solo homer by Brandyce Sallee and things remained locked at 1-1 until the Blue Demons broke out for a four-run fifth.
A leadoff walk by Verdun, followed by a Braden single and intentional walk to Connolly set the stage for a two-run double by Christensen to make it 3-1. Coronado then added two more to the scoreboard with a single to center.
The floodgates opened in the sixth, as DePaul scored eight times on five hits. Christensen and Braden both added two-run singles in the inning.
After the long rally, Verdun set the Bulldogs down 1-2-3 in the sixth to end the game on the mercy rule.
DePaul will return to action next weekend at the BIG EAST Tournament, which the team will host at the Ballpark in Rosemont. The Blue Demons are the No. 1 seed in the four-team field and will play fourth-seeded Creighton at 1:00 p.m. CT on Friday.
Notes: DePaul's 39 wins are the most for the program since 2011... the Blue Demons have won 21 of their past 22 games... Christensen's four RBI tied a career-high... Braden has hits in 20 of her past 21 games and has raised her average from .244 to .350 since March 26... Verdun's win was the 100th of her career and moved her into second all-time in school history, passing Becca Heteniak (99 wins, 2007-10)... Verdun recorded the 900th strikeout of her career in the fifth inning, fanning Brandyce Sallee... she is one of just two pitchers in school history to reach the plateau... Verdun's 28 wins are the fourth-most in a single season at DePaul... Connolly's intentional walk in the fifth was the sixth of her career, moving her into a tie for fourth all-time at DePaul...
