Frazier’s Walk-Off Single Leads DePaul Past UIC in 11 Innings, 4-3

Friday, May 7

Chicago, Ill.

2:30 P.M. CT

DePaul University

23-9

UIC

26-18

Illinois Chicago

DePaul

Frazier’s Walk-Off Single Leads DePaul Past UIC in 11 Innings, 4-3

5/7/2021 7:11:00 PM | SOFTBALL

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Blue Demons outlast Flames in marathon game one of three-game series

CHICAGO – On a brisk and windy Friday afternoon in May at Cacciatore Stadium, UIC and DePaul went blow for blow until the 11th inning saw DePaul breakthrough on a Grace Frazier RBI single to left field to score Nicole Sullivan and claim the 4-3 victory for the Blue Demons.

After playing its longest game of the season, DePaul (23-9, 13-1 BIG EAST) picked up its seventh win in a row and remained a perfect 8-0 at home. The Blue Demons recorded 12 hits and saw four different Blue Demons tally a multi-hit game. Tori Meyer shined at the designated player position with an RBI triple in the third and RBI single in the 10th.

Natalie Halvorson hurled nine and a third innings and allowed two earned runs and six hits before Krista Dalgarn entered in relief in the middle of the 10th inning and picked up the win in one and two third innings of work. Dalgarn improved to 12-2 on the season.

UIC (26-19) struck in the top of the first as leadoff hitter Kayla Wedl notched a single and was later advanced on a sacrifice bunt and brought home on a single from Tara McElligott to give the Flames a 1-0 advantage.

The Blue Demons answered in the bottom half of the inning with a bases loaded single off the bat of Skylor Hilger to score Angela Scalzitti. Scalzitti smacked a leadoff single to left field before being advanced on a Kate Polucha sacrifice bunt. Jessica Cothern reached on a single to shortstop and pushed Scalzitti to third. Brooke Johnson reached on an error by the flames shortstop before Hilger sent one down to third base to plate the lead runner.

The third inning saw the Flames jump out in front again after a leadoff walk followed by a stolen base to put Maicia Ingles in scoring position. Maddie Spinks drove a ball down the third base line and reached on a DePaul fielding error which resulted in a run scored and a 2-1 UIC lead.

DePaul responded in the bottom half of the third as Brooke Johnson sent a single to left field in and was plated on a Meyer triple to center field to tie the ball game at two apiece.

Both squads were scoreless for six innings until the top of the 10th inning when UIC jumped out to a 3-2 lead. Isabelle Garcia led off with a single to left field before being advanced on a sacrifice bunt. Pinch runner McKennah Ulrey was advanced to third on a DePaul fielding error before Ingles reached on a fielder's choice allowing Ulrey to score.

The Blue Demons saw two quick outs in the bottom of the 10th before Kate Polucha was hit by a pitch and took first. Cothern came up with clutch two-out hitting and sent a double to center field and advanced Polucha home. Johnson earned UIC's respect as the sophomore was intentionally walked to load the bases. At the next at bat, Meyer sent an RBI single to left field to score Polucha and knot the score at 3-3 before pinch runner Zoie Rettig attempted to win the game for DePaul and was caught out at home to send the game to an 11th inning.

After a quick put out, Pearl Barroso sent a single through the left side to get things going for the Blue Demons in the 11th inning. Maranda Gutierrez was hit by a pitch and took first to push pinch runner Nicole Sullivan to second. Grace Frazier, in the nine hole, sent an RBI single to left to send Sullivan across the plate and claim the walk-off victory for the Blue Demons.

The Flames and Blue Demons will meet on Saturday, May 8 for a doubleheader with first pitch set to begin at Noon. DePaul will honor its four seniors Pearl Barroso, Jessica Cothern, Krista Dalgarn and Angela Scalzitti in addition to manager Jack O'Brien prior to Saturday's first game.