DePaul University
Providence
DePaul captures BIG EAST regular season title
5/6/2018 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
Box Score
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - For the second time in the last three seasons, the DePaul softball team captured the BIG EAST's regular season title on Sunday as the Blue Demons defeated Providence 5-2.
With Sunday's victory, DePaul sweeps the regular season series against Providence.
The Friars (12-32, 6-14 BE) struck first in the opening inning of play with an RBI-single by Mackensie Compton to take the 1-0 lead.
The Blue Demons tied the game at 1-1 an inning later with an RBI-single by center fielder Angela Scalzitti. Shortstop Maranda Gutierrez led off the inning with single up the middle and then scored on Scalzitti's chopper that squeaked past the Friars' diving shortstop.
DePaul (33-15, 15-3 BE) took the lead in the top of the third as Megan Leyva went opposite field with a two-run home run for the 3-1 Blue Demon lead. Leyva's blast was her ninth of the season, tying her with teammate Jessica Cothern for the Blue Demon lead. With the four-bagger in Sunday's contest, Leyva recorded a home run in each game of DePaul's three-game set against Providence this weekend.
In the top of the sixth, the Blue Demons added an insurance runs to pad their lead to 4-1. With the bases loaded, Scalzitti lifted a bloop single to shallow left to plate DePaul's fourth run of the contest.
The Royal Blue and Scarlet added a final run in the top of the seventh off a sacrifice fly by Gutierrez, wrapping up DePaul's scoring effort on the afternoon.
Facing its final three outs and a 5-1 deficit, Providence made a comeback attempt in bottom of the seventh, scoring the Friars' second and final run of the contest on a sacrifice fly by Julianne Rurka.
Sophomore Missy Zoch (14-5) captured her 14th win of the season in DePaul's 5-2 victory, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out eight. With the effort, Zoch collected her 13th complete game of 2018.
DePaul will now enter the BIG EAST tournament on May 11 in Rosemont, Ill. as the top seed and will face fourth-seeded Villanova at noon. The 2018 tournament field will also include second-seeded Creighton and third-seeded St. John's battling at 3 p.m.
Game Notes
-DePaul leads the all-time series against Providence 23-3.
-Coach Lenti's squad carries an 18-game winning streak against the Friars.
-With a win on Sunday, DePaul finishes the regular season with a 10-6 road record.
-The Blue Demons have captured two BIG EAST regular season titles in three seasons (2016 & 2018).
