DePaul University
Sam Houston State
DePaul Routs SHSU in 10-0 run-rule victory
2/25/2018 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas - The DePaul softball team pushed its winning streak to six games on Sunday morning as the Blue Demons dominated Sam Houston State en route to a 10-0, run-rule victory.
For the 11th time in 2018, DePaul (11-2) jumped on the scoreboard first, taking a 2-0 lead in top of the first inning. Left fielder Kate Polucha led off the contest with a four-pitch walk. After shortstop Maranda Gutierrez also reached on a six-pitch pass, first baseman Morgan Greenwood drove in the Blue Demons' first run of the morning with an RBI-single to left. Two pitches later, center fielder Angela Scalzitti slapped a chopper to deep short for an RBI-single, driving in Gutierrez.
An inning later, DePaul increased its lead to 3-0 with an RBI-single down the right-field line by catcher Jessica Cothern. The chopper drove in right fielder Megan Leyva who led off the inning with a single to center.
The Blue Demons' power at the plate flexed its muscle again in the top of the fourth as Leyva launched a rise ball 20 feet past the left field fence to push DePaul's lead to 4-0. The solo blast ended the day for the Sam Houston State starting pitcher, Darby Fitzpatrick.
In the top of the fifth, DePaul added three more insurance runs with a two-run single to left by second baseman Haydn Christensen and an RBI-single by Cothern. Earlier in the inning, Brianna Viles and Leyva both reached on walks and scored on Christensen's single. Later in the inning, Christensen also scored on Cothern's chopper through the left side to give the Blue Demons the 7-0 advantage.
DePaul's bats continued to do damage in the top of the sixth, plating three runs off back-to-back doubles by Leyva and Polucha for the 10-0 lead. With runners on second and third, Leyva picked up her second and third RBIs of the game with a two-run double to right center. Two pitches later, Polucha lifted an RBI-double to the same spot as Leyva, making it 10-0 in DePaul's favor.
The Bearkats (2-9) managed just three hits in the contest against DePaul starting pitcher Kennedy Garcia (1-0) in five innings of work. The right-hander tallied two strikeouts in the game, without surrendering a run to pick up the win. Freshman Pat Moore came on in the bottom of the sixth to close out the contest for the Blue Demons.
Next, DePaul will conclude the UTA Maverick Tournament against host UT Arlington at 12:30 p.m.
Game Notes
-The Blue Demons' winning streak now sits at six.
-DePaul leads the all-time series with Sam Houston State 2-1.
-Eugene Lenti's squad has held opponents scoreless in eight contests in 2018.
-Kennedy Garcia captured her first win of the 2018 season.
-The DePaul softball program nears the 1,400 wins mark, collecting 1399 dating back to the first season in 1977.
