DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Butler
Maize Leads DePaul to 12th Win in a Row
4/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
Box Score 
CHICAGO - The surging Blue Demons continued their winning ways Saturday at Cacciatore Stadium.
First-place DePaul knocked off Butler 9-1 in a five-inning, run-rule victory in the first game of a BIG EAST Conference doubleheader that gave coach Eugene Lenti's team 12 wins in a row. The Blue Demons are also undefeated in conference play.
Winning pitcher Morgan Maize (14-12) opened the game striking out the side. She would finish with nine strikeouts to equal a career high. Haydn Christensen aided Maize by laying out for a terrific diving catch in short centerfield in the top of the second.
With two out in the top of the third, DePaul (19-20, 9-0) erupted for four runs. Dylan Christensen singled to left and Sabrina Kuchta reached on an infield single.
Maize put the Blue Demons on the board with an RBI double to center, scoring Christensen. Nicole Pihl blasted a three-run homer over the centerfield fence for a 4-0 lead. A Naomi Tellez single and Alysia Rodriguez's run-scoring double made it 5-0.
The DePaul senior ace took it from there, limiting the visiting team to one hit as Butler dropped to 22-17, 5-4. The Bulldogs scored their first run in the top of the fourth on Alyssa Lach's RBI single---their first hit of the game.
The Blue Demons got that back---and more. Kuchta delivered an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth before scoring on Maize's home run to right for an 8-1 advantage.
DePaul loaded the bases in the top of the fifth and Kali Gardner's RBI sacrifice fly ended the game with the run rule. Maize headed the 12-hit attack going 3-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs. Kuchta, Tellez and Rodriguez each had two hits.
Game two of the doubleheader was scheduled for first pitch around 2:10 p.m.
