DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Ball State
Softball Drops Season Opener to Ball State
2/10/2017 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
LAFAYETTE, La. - The DePaul softball team opened the 2017 season with a loss to Ball State on Friday, 5-2. DePaul (0-1) finished with two runs, seven hits and one error, while Ball State (1-0) had five runs, eight hits and no errors.
DePaul freshman pitcher Missy Zoch suffered the loss in her debut. Darcie Huber earned the win for Ball State with Aeshia Miles claiming the save.
Nicole Pihl closed the game with two hits, a walk and two RBI for the DePaul. Four other Blue Demons recorded hits in the defeat.
Ball State got on the board in the first inning off a double to center field from Rachel Houch to bring in the first run. The Cardinals secured two more runs in the inning to take a 3-0 lead.
After a scoreless second inning, Ball State notched a pair of runs in the second inning and grabbed a 5-0 advantage when Danae King singled to left center and brought in Cadie O'Donnell.
DePaul rallied in the fifth inning to cut into the Ball State lead. Haydn Christensen led off the inning with a bunt single down the third base line. Christensen was out at second off a fielder's choice two batters later, but Micah Fitzgerald made it safely on the base path. Pihl came to the plate and sent a ball over the left center fence to give DePaul its first two runs of the day.
Neither team recorded a run in the sixth, giving DePaul one final shot for a comeback in the seventh inning. The Blue Demons placed runners on second and third, but three groundouts ended the first game of the season.
Zoch finished the game with three strikeouts and no walks in three innings pitched. She faced 17 batters while allowing four earned runs on eight hits.
Krista Dalgarn and Kennedy Garcia pitched in relief for the Blue Demons and held Ball State scoreless over the final three innings.
The Blue Demons return to action this afternoon to face host #11/11 Louisiana at 3 p.m. CT.
