DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Loyola
Timely Hitting Leads DePaul Past Loyola
4/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
Box Score: DePaul 4, Loyola 1Â 
| Photo Gallery 
CHICAGO -- The DePaul softball team needed only three hits to take down local foe Loyola on Thursday, 4-1. All three hits for the Blue Demons (16-19, 7-1 BIG EAST) went for extra bases and landed DePaul its third-straight victory over the Ramblers.
Mary Connolly did it all for DePaul on the afternoon. Connolly threw a complete-game, five-hitter while allowing only one run and striking our four. The senior also produced at the plate with a 1-for-3 performance with a home run and two RBI.
Kali Gardner and Morgan Maize were the only other Blue Demons to pick up a hit in the contest. Gardner plated two on a two-run shot, while Maize added a run scored after a leadoff double.
After a clean first inning, Loyola (13-27, 3-13 Missouri Valley) opened the scoring in the second from back-to-back-to-back hits, highlighted by a RBI double from Hannah Jenkins.
DePaul managed only two baserunners from walks until Gardner stepped to the plate in the fourth. Gardner put a drive into a pitch and hit it just over the fence and the outstretched arms of the left fielder to give DePaul a 2-1 advantage.
The Ramblers were held in check in fifth and sixth before Connolly blasted a ball over the center-field wall that almost cleared the entire complex. That home run added two more insurance runs for the Blue Demons and made it a 4-1 margin.
Loyola stranded a runner at third as Connolly shut down the Ramblers in the seventh, sending DePaul to its ninth non-conference victory of the season.
The Blue Demons return to action this weekend when they host Creighton for a three-game set at Cacciatore Stadium, April 18-19. For tickets, call (773) 325-SLAM (7526).
Notes: This was the 69th meeting between the programs all-time... DePaul has taken the last three and lead 61-8 overall... Mary Connolly hit her 40th career home run, which ranks second in program history... Connolly's two RBI elevate the senior to fourth all-time with 151 career RBI... behind two homers versus Loyola, the 2015 team has now surpassed last year's squad with 47 home runs this season... Morgan Maize extended her hitting streak to 12 games... Conolly and Maize have each reached base safely in the last 12 games... for the 11th game in a row, Nicole Phil reached base safely... Connolly picked up her 200th appearance in a game throughout her career... Staci Bonezek earned her 180th start of her career... Gena Lenti played in her 120th career game.
