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Softball Splits Day Two of FGCU Spring Break Invitational
FORT MEYERS, Fla. - The No. 13/13 DePaul softball team split the second day of the FGCU Spring Break Invitational on Saturday. The Blue Demons opened the day with an 8-0 victory over Michigan State but stumbled against host FGCU and dropped a 5-4 nightcap. DePaul (7-2) opened the day with a statement game over the Spartans. Becca Heteniak and Annie Demas each knocked a pair of hits in the win, while Jackie Tarulli-Fisher recorded a team-high three RBI. Lindsey Dean (4-0) threw the complete game shutout, DePaul’s first of the season. She scattered five hits and struck out two. The Blue Demons had a 1-0 lead heading into the third before their bats caught fire and added five runs on four hits and took advantage of three Spartan errors. Amber Patton, Jackie Tarulli-Fisher, Heteniak and Demas all recorded a single and RBI in the frame. With Demas and Tarulli-Fisher on the corners, DePaul head coach Eugene Lenti put Demas in motion and with the defense distracted, Tarulli-Fisher was able to steal home for DePaul’s sixth run of the game. Tarulli-Fisher gave the Blue Demons their final two runs of the ballgame with her third home run of the season in the seventh inning. Michigan State’s Megan Hair (0-1) took the loss. She tossed a complete game and gave up nine hits, while only seven of DePaul’s runs were earned. In the second game of the day, the Blue Demons suffered a 5-4 loss to tournament host FGCU. Heteniak (3-2) allowed just three hits and struck out nine batters but FGCU posted five runs, four in the first inning. Only two of FGCU runs were earned. Up 2-0 in the first, Courtney Platt knocked a two-RBI double to plate FGCU final two runs of the inning. Heteniak got three runs back on her own; with her second home run of the season this one sailed over the right center field fence in the fifth inning. FGCU got a run back in the bottom of the innging when Jessica Paez homered. DePaul’s final run of the game came on Marla Mathews bases loaded walk. Shea Warren went 3-for-3, while Patton was 3-for-4 in the loss to FGCU. Catherine McDaniel (6-0) earned the win; she gave up 10 hits and struck out nine. The Blue Demons close out the tournament with games against Fairfield and Bethune-Cookman on Sunday. The first pitch of the day is scheduled for 8 a.m. (CST).
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