DePaul University
College of Charleston
DePaul Suffers First Loss of 2018 to College of Charleston
2/15/2018 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
Box Score
MT. PROSPECT, S.C. - The DePaul softball team's five-game winning streak to open the 2018 season was snapped on Thursday afternoon as the Blue Demons dropped a 4-0 result against College of Charleston to open the 2018 Cougar Classic. The Blue Demons had multiple opportunities to score in the contest but left eight runners stranded on the base paths.
The Cougars (4-1) broke the silence in the bottom of the third inning as right fielder Sara Garcia lifted a double to the left-center field wall to drive in two. Third baseman Taylor DuPree led the inning off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. After center fielder Taylor Belfiore reached on a walk, Garcia's double would give College of Charleston the 2-0 lead.
DePaul (5-1) attempted a rally in the top of the fifth but a throw from right field to the plate stifled the Blue Demons' surge. With runners on first and second, freshman left fielder Kate Polucha powered a single to right field where Charleston's Garcia one-hopped the ball and threw out a charging Angela Scalzitti at the plate.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Cougars pushed their lead to 4-0, capitalizing on two walks earlier in the inning to score two insurance runs. With runners on first and second, shortstop Kelly Sinclair ripped a bases-clearing triple to the right-center field gap, plating two runs for the 4-0 lead over DePaul.
Freshman Pat Moore (1-1) suffered her first loss of the 2018, surrendering four earned runs on five hits in five innings of work. The left-hander struck out two batters while totaling six walks. College of Charleston's Izzy Berouty (2-0) picked up the win, pitching a complete-game shutout against DePaul.
The Blue Demons continue their run at the Cougar Classic on Friday when DePaul battles Longwood (9 a.m.) and Iona (1:30 p.m.) at Patriots Park on day two of the three-day classic. DePaul will then finish tournament play against Northern Illinois (9 a.m.) and Presbyterian (11:15 a.m.) on Saturday.All game times are Central time zone and can be followed via live stats by clicking here.
Game Notes
-Morgan Greenwood collected her second double of 2018 in the top of the fourth.
-Moore has 20 strikeouts in 15.1 innings of work in the center circle.
-Scalzitti continues to lead DePaul at the plate with a .450 batting average, going 1-for-3 against the Cougars.
-Coach Lenti nears the 1,300 career wins mark, sitting at 1,297 as of Thursday. That mark currently places him fifth all-time in NCAA history and fourth all-time among active coaches.
