DePaul University
11-13, 1-1
Butler
15-8, 3-1
Cosgrove's Walk-Off Shot Caps DePaul Comeback
3/20/2022 1:18:00 PM | SOFTBALL
The freshman's first-career home run gives DePaul a thrilling 7-6 victory
CHICAGO — DePaul softball capped off a comeback victory with a pinch-hit Baylee Cosgrove walk-off home run to top the Butler Bulldogs, 7-6. DePaul's offensive onslaught was sparked by three home runs, with Maranda Gutierrez, Kate Polucha and Cosgrove all going yard. Polucha delivered a game-tying three-run shot in the bottom of the fifth before Cosgrove ended the ballgame in the seventh.
The Bulldogs took an early 1-0 lead in the top half of the first inning after the first two batters reached on base hits followed by a pair of sacrifices to push a run across the plate.
The bottom half of the inning saw Gutierrez reach base at the leadoff spot before Brooke Johnson and Polucha drew walks to load the bases. Nicole Sullivan drew the third consecutive walk to force Gutierrez home and knot the score at one apiece. The Blue Demons left runs to be desired as the inning ended with the bases loaded.
DePaul (11-13, 1-1 BIG EAST) took a 2-1 lead on a Gutierrez solo home run to left field in the bottom of the second.
Butler (15-8, 3-1) answered right back in the top of the third with four hits and three runs including a two-run home run to reclaim the lead 4-2.
Johnson sent a leadoff triple to right field to start the bottom half of the inning before scoring on a Polucha sacrifice to shallow right to trim the deficit to 4-3.
A two-run homer from Butler in the fifth widened their advantage to 6-3 before Natalie Halvorson came in for Erin Hocker in relief.
In the bottom of the fifth, Hilger reached on a leadoff single before Johnson drew a walk to welcome Polucha to the plate. Polucha sent a three-run home run over the center field wall to knot the score at six.
After both offenses were quieted going into the bottom of the seventh, Cosgrove pinch hit for Tori Meyer with one out. Cosgrove turned on a low Mackenzie Griman pitch and poked the walk-off shot down the left field line. The game-winning home run was Cosgrove's first of her career.
The two squads will meet for the series finale at Cacciatore Stadium on Sunday afternoon at approximately 2 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Halvorson, Natalie (5-5)
L: GRIMAN, Mackenzie (2-4)
Batting:
2B: WHITE, Ella 1 ; AVERY, Bri 1
HR: O'RILLEY, Teagan 1 ; HOOSEN, Monique 1
RBI: BOYER, Ellie 1 ; O'RILLEY, Teagan 3 ; HOOSEN, Monique 2
SH: GRIMAN, Mackenzie 1
SF: O'RILLEY, Teagan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: FEY, Lauren 1 ; BOYER, Ellie 1 ; O'RILLEY, Teagan 1 ; WHITE, Ella 1 ; HOOSEN, Monique 1 ; AVERY, Bri 1
SB: BOYER, Ellie 1
Batting:
3B: Johnson, Brooke 1
HR: Gutierrez, Maranda 1 ; Polucha, Kate 1 ; Cosgrove, Baylee 1
RBI: Gutierrez, Maranda 1 ; Polucha, Kate 4 ; Sullivan, Nicole 1 ; Cosgrove, Baylee 1
SF: Polucha, Kate 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gutierrez, Maranda 2 ; Hilger, Skylor 1 ; Johnson, Brooke 2 ; Polucha, Kate 1 ; Cosgrove, Baylee 1
HBP: Gutierrez, Maranda 1
