DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Northern Iowa
Blue Demons Power Past UNI, 11-1
2/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
HOUSTON - The DePaul softball team plated a season-high 11 runs in a six-inning defeat of Northern Iowa, 11-1. The Blue Demons (2-4) combined for 13 hits, including four extra-base hits in the opening game of the Houston Hilton Plaza Invitational on Friday.
As has been the theme so far this season, DePaul fell behind in the first inning. UNI (3-4) scored on a fielder's choice to move ahead, 1-0.
After a clean second, Morgan Maize got the Blue Demons on the board with a two-run blast - her fourth of the season. A single down the right-field line by Mary Connolly plated another run and gave DePaul a 3-1 margin.
The fourth inning followed suit with the second as both teams came up empty in the frame.
Connolly opened up the scoring in the fifth with a two-run home run. A double steal by Staci Bonezek and Cherelle Chambers scored another run, followed by a bases loaded RBI single by Kali Gardner gave the Blue Demons a 7-1 lead.
The sixth inning mirrored the fifth as DePaul plated four runs in the frame. Marsha' Pendilton smacked her first career home run on a pinch-hit appearance. A Panther error and fielder's choice scored two more runs for the Blue Demons. Angela Scalzitti ended the scoring onslaught with a single to plate DePaul's 11th run of the game.
In total, the Blue Demons scored 11 runs on 13 hits, including three home runs. Dylan Christensen, Connolly and Maize each touted multi-hit games to lead the offense in the opening game of the invitational.
Megan Leyva threw a complete game to pick up her first career win of the season. The freshman tossed six innings and gave up one run on five hits.
The Blue Demons return to the diamond at 11:30 a.m. to take on Stephen F. Austin. Live stats can be found .
Notes: This was the ninth meeting between the programs all-time… DePaul has won the last five… Mary Connolly moves into fifth on the all-time home run list with 31 career blasts… Dylan Christensen continued her team-best hit streak of five… Morgan Maize has tied a season-high with four home runs already this season… Maize has homered in back-to-back games for the first time in her career… Marsha' Pendilton homered for the first time in her career… Angela Scalzitti picked up her first-career hit as a Blue Demon.
