DePaul University
13-17, 3-5
Villanova
14-19, 3-4
Lehman Leads DePaul Past Villanova 7-1
4/2/2022 2:03:00 PM | SOFTBALL
CHICAGO — Dominance in the center circle highlighted a Saturday afternoon win for DePaul as graduate pitcher Sarah Lehman chopped down the Villanova lineup in a 7-1 victory at Cacciatore Stadium.
Lehman, a right-hander from Iowa City, Iowa, surrendered just two hits and one earned run while recording eight punchouts to improve to 5-5 in her 16th appearance of the season.
Offensively, DePaul (13-17, 3-5 BIG EAST) was led by a pair of freshman in Baylee Cosgrove and Anna Wohlers. Cosgrove went 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI including her third home run of the season. Wohlers went 2-for-3 behind the dish with a single, a walk and an RBI double to right field.
Kate Polucha, Tori Meyer and Riley Pool also drove in runs while stout base running from Skylor Hilger allowed the Blue Demons to steal a run to add to the tally. Maranda Gutierrez reached base on three of four at bats, drawing a trio of walks.
The Blue Demons took an early 1-0 lead after the first inning. Gutierrez reached on a leadoff walk before Hilger singled and Brooke Johnson hit into a fielder's choice. On a Polucha lineout to second, a Villanova throwing error allowed Gutierrez to run 60 feet and score.
A four-run third inning opened up the ball game for DePaul. Hilger reached on an error by the shortstop, Polucha reached on a no-throw on a fielder's choice before a Sullivan walk loaded the bases. After a ball in Meyer's at bat, Hilger stole home to put DePaul up 2-0 before Meyer made it 3-0 on a RBI-single to center field. Wohlers drew a walk to load the paths once more before Pool brought in a run on a fielder's choice. Cosgrove made it a four-run inning on a sacrifice to center field to plate Meyer.
Cosgrove came right back in the fifth inning with her solo shot to center to make it 6-0 before Villanova answered with a home run in the top of the sixth inning to trim the deficit back to five.
Wohlers pushed the score to 7-1 on an RBI-double to score Carly Alvers.
Villanova (14-19, 3-4 BIG EAST) threatened in the top of the seventh as an error, a base hit, and a batter hit by pitch loaded the bases before Lehman slammed the door on back-to-back strikeouts and a line out to center field.
The Blue Demons and Wildcats will conclude the three-game set on Sunday, April 3 with first pitch from Cacciatore Stadium scheduled for 12 p.m. (CT).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lehman, Sarah (5-5)
L: Sara Kennedy (2-6)
Batting:
HR: Megan Kern 1
RBI: Megan Kern 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Megan Kern 1
HBP: Angela Giampolo 1
Batting:
2B: Wohlers, Anna 1
HR: Cosgrove, Baylee 1
RBI: Polucha, Kate 1 ; Meyer, Tori 1 ; Wohlers, Anna 1 ; Pool, Riley 1 ; Cosgrove, Baylee 2
SF: Cosgrove, Baylee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gutierrez, Maranda 1 ; Hilger, Skylor 1 ; Polucha, Kate 1 ; Sullivan, Nicole 1 ; Meyer, Tori 1 ; Alvers, Carly 1 ; Cosgrove, Baylee 1
SB: Hilger, Skylor 1
