DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Oklahoma
Blue Demons Drop Season Opener to Sooners, 9-2.
2/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
Box Score: Oklahoma 9, DePaul 2 
HONOLULU - The No. 25/RV DePaul softball team dropped a 9-2 decision to No. 4/3 Oklahoma in the first game of the Hawaii Paradise Classic on Friday evening.
The Blue Demons (0-1) fell behind early from a solo home run in the first inning, but DePaul would respond. With a runner on, Mary Connolly popped a hit over center field to give the Blue Demons a 2-1 lead after the top of the third.
After being held without a hit from the second to the fourth innings, the Sooners (1-0) mustered a five-run frame in the fifth to take a 6-2 lead. In that inning, five straight batters for Oklahoma reached base by virtue of a walk or a single in what proved to be the biggest frame for either side.
The Sooners grabbed three more runs in the sixth to push the margin to as high as seven. DePaul went down in order in the final inning to drop its first season opener since 2010.
Maxine Rodriguez earned her first career start in the circle and kept the Oklahoma hitters at bay. The sophomore went four innings, totaling three strikeouts and surrendering only one hit.
Connolly (0-1) relieved Rodriguez in the fifth and was tagged for all five of Oklahoma's runs in one inning of work.
Gena Lenti and Connolly each collected two hits to pace the Blue Demon offense. Micah Fitzgerald and Naomi Tellez each added a single in the first game of the season.
DePaul returns to the diamond tomorrow to take on St. Mary's at 4 p.m. before a showdown with hosts Hawaii at 9 p.m.
Notes: This was the 15th time these programs have met… Oklahoma has won the last three meetings… with her two-run blast in the third, Mary Connolly sits just one home run behind Becca Heteniak for fifth on the program's all-time list… Gena Lenti tied a career-high with two hits… Naomi Tellez earned her first hit as a Blue Demon after transferring from New Mexico… Maxine Rodriguez set career-highs in batters faced (18), innings pitched (four) and strikeouts (three).
