DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Georgetown
DePaul Uses Long Ball to Thrash Georgetown, 14-1
4/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
DePaul 14, Georgetown 1 (5 inn.) 
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The DePaul softball team needed only five innings to take the third and final game of the series against Georgetown on Sunday, 14-1. The Blue Demons (15-18, 7-1 BIG EAST) smacked three home runs en route to their third series win of the conference slate.
Nicole Pihl laced two of the team's homers and collected five RBI in the process. Kali Gardner hit the other long ball -- a solo shot -- to put the game out of reach.
Morgan Maize tallied a two-hit performance for the seventh time this season and second in the series.
In the circle, Mary Connolly continued her dominance against the Hoyas (13-24, 3-7). The senior threw five innings and surrendered only one run on five hits to earn her ninth victory of the season.
DePaul got on the board first when a double steal was put into play. Pihl was caught at second but drew the attention to score Maize and make it a 1-0 game.
Gardner got things going in the second frame as she led off with a homer -- her second of the season. Back-to-back doubles by Brittany Boesel and Ali Lenti brought in two more and gave the Blue Demons a 4-0 advantage.
Georgetown nabbed a run back in the third from a double to deep left center, but DePaul would plate 10 more runs in the next two stanzas to put the game out of reach.
Maize blasted a triple to left field to score Lenti and later scored on another double steal. Pihl later hit a two-run shot to make it an 8-1 score line.
In the top of the fifth, DePaul score two runs from an error and a bases-loaded walk before Pihl came to the dish with the bases loaded yet again. The sophomore destroyed a ball over the left-field fence and hit her second grand slam of the season.
Connolly sent the Hoyas down in order in the home half of the fifth to give DePaul a 14-1 victory.
The Blue Demons return home this week for five home games at Cacciatore Stadium. DePaul hosts Illinois (April 15) and Loyola (April 16) in midweek non-conference games before welcoming Creighton for a three-game series, April 18-19. For tickets, call 773-325-SLAM (7526).
Notes: This was the 12th meeting between the programs all-time... DePaul holds an 11-1 advantage in the overall series... the Blue Demons reached the 10-run threshold for the sixth time this season and fourth in the last 10 games... DePaul moves to 8-4 on the season when leading after the fourth inning... the Blue Demons hit two-plus home runs for the 13th time in 2015... Morgan Maize continued her hitting streak to 11 games... Mary Connolly and Maize have reached base safely in the last 11 contests... Nicole Pihl has totaled five or more RBI for the second time this season... Brittany Boesel started the 171st game of her career... DePaul did not commit an error for the sixth game this season.
