DePaul University
Northern Illinois
DePaul edges Illinois rival NIU 4-2
2/17/2018 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
Box Score
MT. PROSPECT, S.C. - The DePaul softball team opened the final day of competition at the Cougar Classic on Saturday morning with a 4-2 win against its "Land of Lincoln" rival Northern Illinois.
NIU (1-7) took an early lead in the bottom of the first with an RBI-triple by third baseman Alaynie Woollard, but the Blue Demons responded with a two-run rally in the third to take a 2-1 lead.
With runners on first and second, first baseman Morgan Greenwood ripped a two-run double to center field, driving in Angela Scalzitti and Haydn Christensen for the 2-1 lead. Scalzitti started the rally with single up the middle while Christensen reached on a five-pitch walk.
The Huskies battled back in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 2-2. With bases loaded, Sam Schmidt reached on a walk to advance runners 60 feet for the second Husky run of the contest. DePaul's starting pitcher, Missy Zoch worked out of the bases-loaded jam to halt NIU's attack.
DePaul (7-2) battled back again in the top of the seventh to regain a 4-2 lead. Right fielder Megan Leyva led off the inning with a single to center. Scalzitti then put two runners on with her third hit of the afternoon, landing a bunt single down the third base line. After a sacrifice bunt by Christensen put runners at second and third, Greenwood drove in her third and fourth runs of the game with a single to left.
Both Scalzitti and Greenwood finished the day with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate. Greenwood recorded all four of DePaul's RBIs in the contest, leading the Blue Demons to victory.
The Blue Demons received a complete game effort from Zoch as the right-hander allowed just four hits and one earned run while striking out two Huskies.
DePaul wraps up its run at the Cougar Classic against Presbyterian at 11:15 a.m. CT. Live stats for this matchup can be followed by clicking here.
Game Notes
-DePaul leads the all-time series against NIU 36-15.
-Greenwood carries a team-best .500 batting average, recording four doubles on the season.
-Zoch now has a 5-1 record in seven appearances for the Blue Demons.
-Coach Lenti nears the 1,300 career wins mark, sitting at 1,299 as of Saturday morning.
