DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Villanova
DePaul clinches sweep with 12-1 victory over Villanova
3/31/2018 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
Box Score
CHICAGO - For the second series in-a-row, the DePaul softball team brought out the brooms on Saturday as the Blue Demons swept their series Villanova by wrapping up the three-game set with a 12-1 run-rule victory over the Wildcats.
In their three games against Villanova, the Blue Demons (23-11, 6-0 BE) tallied 34 runs against the Wildcats as each of their three wins all came via five-inning run rule victories.
For the 23rd time in 2018, DePaul jumped out to an early lead in the opening inning of play, taking a 2-0 advantage over Villanova (10-13, 0-3 BE). With the bases loaded, first baseman Haydn Christensen powered a single to shallow center, driving in the first two Blue Demon runs of the contest.
In the bottom of the second, DePaul notched its first of two five-run innings of the afternoon. Left fielder Kate Polucha drove in the third run of the contest with a single to left. Five pitches later, right fielder Megan Leyva launched an RBI-double off the center field wall to make it 4-0. A costly error by the Wildcats extended the inning after two outs were recorded and opened the door for the opportunity for three more Blue Demon runs to cross the plate. After Angela Scalzitti's dribbler to second was mishandled allowing Polucha to score, Christensen increased DePaul's lead to 7-0 with a two-run double to the left-center gap.
While Villanova cut the Blue Demon lead to 7-1 with an RBI-single by Nikki Alden in the top the fourth, DePaul would bounce back with another five-run inning in the bottom frame to close out the 12-1 victory.
Senior Kennedy Garcia (4-3) had a dominant performance in the center circle for DePaul as the right-hander pitched her first complete game of 2018 in the win. Garcia allowed just one earned run on four hits while striking out one batter without surrendering a walk in five innings.
The Blue Demons are back in action on Tuesday as they open the month of April with a Red Line Rivalry matchup with Loyola Chicago. First pitch from Cacciatore Stadium is set for 4 p.m.
Game Notes
•DePaul is 21-2 in 2018 when it scores first.
•Coach Lenti's squad is currently on a six-game winning streak.
•DePaul leads the all-time series with Villanova 24-4.
•The Blue Demons has won their last four games via run-rule in five innings.
