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Blue Demons Fall Twice at the Red & Black Showcase
ATHENS, Ga. The DePaul softball team was unable to spark its offense as they fell to Marshall and Georgia, Friday at the Red and Black Showcase, hosted by the University of Georgia at the UGA Softball Stadium. The Blue Demons fell to the Thundering Herd 4-3 and dropped a 3-2 contest to UGA in the evening. Lauren Frankiewicz, Lindsey Dean and Becca Heteniak all saw action on day one of the season, but it was Heteniak (0-2) who suffered both losses in the circle. The All-American sophomore threw the final inning against Marshall and a complete game against the Bulldogs. Heteniak finished the day with four strikeouts and four walks. Amber Patton led DePaul (0-2) with a 3-for-6 effort, with two of her hits coming against Marshall. Tara Voss and Heteniak each knocked in two runs; Voss' against Marshall and Heteniak's versus Georgia. The Red & Black Showcase resumes on Saturday and sees the Blue Demons face the College of Charleston at 11 a.m. (CST) and a rematch with the Bulldogs at 3 p.m. Marshall 4, DePaul 3 Marshall (1-0) got on the board first in the bottom of the third when Samantha Rodriguez sent a two-run home run over the left field wall. Rodriguez's long ball scored Rachel Folden, who walked to lead off the inning. Brittney Yniguez and Stephanie Blagaich knocked back-to-back singles with two outs in the top of the sixth to spark the Blue Demon offense. With runners on first and second, Alex Morocco executed a perfect slap to the short stop and a muffed throw by Marshall first baseman Melanie Stoehr allowed DePaul to score its first run of the ballgame. The Blue Demons continued to find the holes in defense as Voss roped a single to right field to knot the game at three. With the game on the line, Heteniak came to the circle and gave up a double off the center field wall to Folden. A pass ball during Rodriguez's at bat allowed Folden to reach third and Rodriguez eventually drew a walk. Heteniak intentionally walked Jessica Hughes to load the bases and Stoehr followed and drew the game-winning walk. DePaul tallied nine hits on afternoon and was led by Patton's 2-for-4 effort. Voss led the Blue Demons with two RBI. Caitlyn Jackson (1-0) threw a complete game for Marshall. She struck out three and walked one, while only two of DePaul's three runs were earned. Georgia 3, DePaul 2 UGA capitalized on an error in left field to get on the board early. With one out and a runner on first, Alisa Goler lined a shot into left field that fell in-and-out of DePaul left fielder Sean Plese's glove. Plese recovered and relayed the ball to shortstop Brittney Yniguez and she was able to throw Megan Wiggins out at home and leave Goler at third. Melissa Wood followed and knocked an RBI single to score the first run of the ballgame in the bottom of the first. The Blue Demons loaded the bases in the top of the third with two outs. Patton looped a single into left field and Jackie Tarulli-Fisher got a ball to fall in front of Georgia second baseman, Sojourner Moody for an infield single to place runners at second and third. Marcy Wilus battled through six pitches before being hit by Georgia starter Sarah McCloud to load the bases for Becca Heteniak. With a full count, Heteniak ripped a single into right that scored two runs and gave the Blue Demons a 2-1 advantage. Georgia's Jennie Auger tied the game with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the fifth. Auger sent her first home run of the season just right of the left field foul poll to knot the game at two. Wood again provided the Bulldogs with an offensive push as she knocked a game-winning RBI double to right field to give UGA its final run in bottom of the sixth. McCloud (1-0) threw a complete game for the Bulldogs and struck out four and walked two. Heteniak (0-2) also threw a complete game, the sophomore scattered four hits, struck out four and walked one. The Black and Red Showcase resumes on Saturday and sees the Blue Demons face the College of Charleston at 11 a.m. and a rematch with the Bulldogs at 3 p.m.
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