DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Butler
DePaul Uses Barrage of Hits to Power Past Butler
5/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
CHICAGO -- The DePaul softball team utilized a bevy of hits to take down Butler in the second game of the doubleheader on Saturday, 8-4. The Blue Demons (22-22, 13-3 BIG EAST) collected 15 hits from 11 different sources en route to locking up the No. 2 seed in next weekend's BIG EAST Championship.
Micah Fitzgerald (3-for-3) and Brittany Boesel (2-for-2) each touted a perfect day at the plate to pace DePaul offensively.
Mary Connolly and Boesel both contributed two RBI to elevate the Blue Demons to victory.
On the mound, Maxine Rodriguez and Connolly combined for a complete game and allowed just four runs scattered across eight hits.
Butler (23-27, 8-12) jumped on the board first behind a 2-run homer from first basemen Alex Kotter in its first at bat.
DePaul responded and took the lead in the second frame. Ali Lenti and Boesel hit back-to-back RBI singles before a Connolly triple brought them both in and made it a 4-2 game.
The Blue Demons added to the lead by virtue of an RBI double from Sabrina Kuchta and a Boesel sacrifice fly to make it 7-2 in favor of the home team in the third.
After a balk brought in a run for the Bulldogs, Marsha' Pendilton provided the knockout punch when she laced a double to right center and give DePaul an 8-3 lead.
Butler notched a solo home run in the top of the seventh, but it was too little, too late. The Blue Demons took the result, 8-4.
The two teams close the series and regular season with a 12 p.m. game tomorrow at Cacciatore Stadium. Senior Day ceremonies will take place at the conclusion of the game. For ticket information, call 773-325-SLAM (7526).
Notes: This was the eighth meeting between the programs all-time... DePaul has taken the last three and holds a 7-1 advantage overall... the Blue Demons registered 10-plus hits for the 14th time this season and sixth in BIG EAST play... DePaul moves to 13-1 when leading after the sixth inning... the Blue Demons have outscored their competition 40-20 in the second inning this season... Mary Connolly extended her hitting streak to four games... Connolly also picked up her 15th game of multiple RBI this season... Morgan Maize notched her team-leading 13th game of at least two hits in 2015... Ellie Forkin reached base safely for the fourth-straight game... Maize earned her 95th career start in the lineup.
