DePaul Tops Villanova 3-2

Saturday, April 10

Villanova, Pa.

1:00 P.M. CT

DePaul University

16-8, 7-1

Villanova

18-10, 4-1

DePaul

Villanova

4/10/2021 4:51:00 PM | SOFTBALL

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Blue Demons use two-run seventh inning to earn doubleheader split the Wildcats

VILLANOVA, Pa. – After dropping game one of Saturday's doubleheader, DePaul returned the favor in game two as the Blue Demons edged Villanova, 3-2.

Behind timely hits and stout pitching from Natalie Halvorson, DePaul withstood a late surge by the Wildcats and improved to 16-8 and 7-1 in BIG EAST play to remain in first in the league standings.

Behind the plate, the Blue Demons made the necessary adjustments from game one to generate more scoring opportunities led by Jessica Cothern and Nicole Sullivan with two hits apiece. Cothern and fellow senior Kate Polucha recorded the only RBI's on the day.

Halvorson was stellar in the circle and improved to 5-3 on the season in a complete game. The senior right-hander threw a season-high eight strikeouts and held the Wildcats scoreless through six innings. With the DePaul defense behind her, Halvorson stranded 11 Villanova batters on the outing.

DePaul struck first in the bottom of the second inning. Gabby O'Riley took a base after being hit by a pitch before being advanced behind a Skylor Hilger fielder's choice. Maranda Gutierrez reached first on a hit by pitch and Nicole Sullivan loaded the bases on an infield single. On the next at bat, Hilger ran home on a passed ball to give the Blue Demons a 1-0 advantage.

The fourth inning saw Villanova (18-10, 4-1 BIG EAST) load the bases on a DePaul fielding error followed by two singles, but Halvorson left the runners stranded and eluded the tying run.

O'Riley and Brooke Johnson each tallied a base hit in the bottom of the sixth, and advanced to second and third but could not be plated.

In the all-important seventh inning, Sullivan tapped in a leadoff triple down the right field line to put the pressure on the Wildcats. Grace Frazier followed up with a base hit to third base and was advanced to second on a Sclazitti ground out. Sullivan ran home on a chopper from Kate Polucha to make the score 2-0 in favor of the Blue Demons. Cothern sent a two-out single down the right field line to bring Frazier across the plate from second and give DePaul a 3-0 advantage. The RBI single was Cothern's 200th hit of her career.

Villanova loaded the bases on its first three at bat's in the bottom half of the inning on a hit by pitch, walk and single up the middle. Two consecutive fly outs brought two runs across for the Wildcats and the DePaul lead stood at one run. After an intentional walk of Ally Jones, Halvorson caught the final batter looking and clinched the win for the Blue Demons.

The series finale is set for 11 a.m. (CT) on Sunday, April 11 at the Villanova Softball complex.