DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Louisiana
Softball Drops Close Contest to #11/11 Louisiana
2/11/2017 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
LAFAYETTE, La. - A late lead in the game against #11/11 Louisiana on Saturday afternoon was not enough for the DePaul softball team as the Blue Demons fell by a score of 4-3.
Kennedy Garcia suffered the loss for DePaul and dropped to 1-1 on the season after pitching 2.2 innings and allowing three earned runs. Alex Stewart earned the win and improved her record to 2-0 in the circle.
Jessica Cothern had a three-hit day at the plate for the Blue Demons with two of her hits being doubles. Nicole Pihl was the only other DePaul batter to record multiple hits.
Freshman Missy Zoch went four full innings in the circle for DePaul and allowed just three hits and one earned run.
DePaul (1-3) outhit Louisiana (3-0) on the afternoon, 8-7, while each team left seven runners on base.
It was a pitching duel to start the game between DePaul and Louisiana. Zoch for the Blue Demons only allowed one hit in the first three innings.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Louisiana put runners on second and third for Jaime Landry. Landry flied out to right field for a sacrifice fly and gave the Ragin' Cajuns the lead.
DePaul answered in the top of the fifth when Alysia Rodriguez homered to left center to tie the ballgame. That homer was the first for Rodriguez this season.
A one-out double by Cothern in the sixth put the Blue Demons in position to take the lead. Ana Greik pinch ran for Cothern and moved up to third when Sabrina Kuchta singled down the left line. A costly fielding error by Louisiana's shortstop let Greik score the go-ahead run.
The Blue Demons added one more run to their lead in the seventh inning when Cothern found space down the left field line for a two-out single, bringing home Micah Fitzgerald from second base.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Louisiana recorded a leadoff single and advanced the runner to second after a groundout. Haley Hayden doubled to left center and scored the runner from second to cut DePaul's lead to one. With two outs and runners on second and third, Daniella Chavez singled up the middle and batted in the runners to give Louisiana the win.
DePaul has one more game in Lafayette, La. on Sunday when the Blue Demons take on Iowa State at 11:15 a.m. CT. The two teams played earlier on Saturday with DePaul claiming the win, 3-2.
