DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Illinois
Blue Demons Fall to Illinois
4/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
Box Score: Illinois 6, DePaul 0Â 
CHICAGO -- The bats stayed silent for the DePaul softball team in a 6-0 loss to in-state foe Illinois on Wednesday afternoon. The Blue Demons (15-19, 7-1 BIG EAST) were shutout for just the fifth time this season.
DePaul manage to scrap together three hits off of Illinois pitcher Jade Vecvanags, who threw her first career complete-game shutout.
Leading the charge at the plate were Micah Fitzgerald, Ali Lenti and Morgan Maize who each collected a hit. Lenti was the lone Blue Demon to reach base twice as she drew a walk to partner with a single.
The Fighting Illini (19-21, 8-4 Big Ten) got all the offense they needed in the first when they plated three runs on three hits and were aided by a DePaul error.
The next five innings remained clean, despite Illinois getting a runner on base in four of those innings.
Megan Leyva earned the start in the circle and got out of a series of jams from the second through the sixth innings. Leyva forced the Illini into leaving six runners on base during that span.
The top of the seventh inning mirrored the first for Illinois as it plated three more runs, keyed by a solo home run, to push the score to 6-0 in favor of the road team.
DePaul went down in order in the home half and dropped only its third game in the last 10 played.
The Blue Demons return to action tomorrow when they host Loyola. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. at Cacciatore Stadium. For tickets, call (773) 325-SLAM (7526).
Notes: This was the 23rd meeting between the programs all-time... DePaul leads the overall series 12-10-1, with the teams splitting the last four... the Blue Demons were shutout for only the fifth time this season... Morgan Maize continued her hitting streak to 12 games... Maize picked up her 85th career hit in her 85th career game... Mary Connolly's streak of reaching base safely extended to 12 games... Megan Leyva threw her seventh career complete game... DePaul dropped to 12-6 against Big Ten opponents since 2010.
