Lehman Tosses a Gem, Blue Demons Advance in BIG EAST Softball Championship

Thursday, May 12

Rosemont, Ill.

11:00 A.M. CT

DePaul University

29-22

No. 1 UConn

36-17

DePaul

UConn

Lehman Tosses a Gem, Blue Demons Advance in BIG EAST Softball Championship

5/12/2022 3:23:00 PM | SOFTBALL

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Blue Demons meet either Butler or Villanova at 11 a.m. on Friday

ROSEMONT, Ill. — DePaul pitcher Sarah Lehman held top-seeded Connecticut without a hit or a run through five and two-thirds innings in a dominating 6-2 win on Thursday afternoon in game one of the 2022 BIG EAST Softball Championship in Rosemont, Ill.

Behind Lehman's outing in the circle and a four-run fifth inning off the Blue Demon bats, DePaul advanced to Friday's semifinal round in the double elimination tournament. The Blue Demons win on Thursday marked the 20th for the program in 16 appearances in the BIG EAST Championship.

All-BIG EAST First Team selections Kate Polucha and Brooke Johnson brought in a pair of runs each while Baylee Cosgrove got the scoring started on an RBI-triple in the second inning. Pinch-hitter Riley Pool gave DePaul some insurance with a sacrifice bunt in the seventh to drive in a run. Tori Meyer went 2-for-4 on the day and crossed the plate on two occasions.

Lehman moved to 15-5 on the season with the complete game win, allowing two runs on two hits and a pair of walks. The Iowa City, Iowa native tossed six strikeouts and improved her season ERA to 2.97.

DePaul (29-22) jumped out front 1-0 in the top of the second inning. Meyer sent a leadoff base hit to second base before BayleeCosgrove brought her around to score on a deep RBI-triple to right field.

The Blue Demons widened the lead to 5-0 with a four-run fourth inning. Carly Alvers roped a two-out double to left center before Maranda Gutierrez was intentionally walked and Skylor Hilger loaded the bases to set the table for Johnson who sent a first pitch two-out, two-RBI single down the left field line to plate Alvers and Gutierrez. Polucha lifted a ball to shallow right field to bring around Hilger and Johnson.

UConn (36-17) etched a run in the sixth as a leadoff walk came around to score on a double to deep left field.

The top of the seventh inning saw Meyer send a double to right center and landing on third on the throw before Riley Pool laid down a pinch-hit sacrifice bunt to bring the runner home and give DePaul a 6-1 advantage.

The Huskies added a run in the bottom half of the seventh on a two-out solo shot to left field but that would be all as DePaul went 5-3 to claim the victory

The Blue Demons advance to play on Friday, May 13 against the winner of Thursday's game two featuring No. 2 Butler vs. No. 3 Villanova. First pitch from the Ballpark at Rosemont is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT with coverage on FS2.