University of Connecticut Athletics
Softball Falls to DePaul 4-3 in BIG EAST Semifinals
5/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
DePaul Box -
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 9, 2008) - The University of Connecticut softball put up a strong effort against 20th-ranked DePaul in the BIG EAST semifinals Friday, but fell 4-3. DePaul improves to 47-16 on the season, while UConn finishes the year 28-22.
The Huskies got on the board first with two runs in the bottom of first inning. After Jillian Ortega (Aberdeen, N.J) led off the game with a double, she then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Danielle Del Ponte (Tewksbury, Mass.) singled her home. Later in the inning Sarah Neuschwander (Chugiak, Alaska) singled home Micah Truax (South Glen Falls, N.Y.) to give UConn a 2-0 lead.
DePaul responded with four in the top of the second. After starting pitcher Tricia Sullivan (New Bedford, Mass.) walked the bases loaded, Rachael Crossin (Fairless Hills, Pa.) came in and relieved her. The big blow of the inning came two batters later, when Amber Patton doubled to left center and scored two runs.
UConn had a threat in the bottom of the second with two runners on and only one out. Allie Gendron (Belchertown, Mass.) then hit a line shot that bounced off the glove and head of DePaul starter Becca Heteniak without touching the ground, and was caught by the shortstop Tara Voss. The Blue Demons were then able to double off Meghan Tierney (Salem, Conn.) to end the inning. After being attended to by the training staffs, Heteniak was able to walk off under her own power and remained in the game.
Heteniak settled down from there and kept UConn from mounting a serious threat until the bottom of the sixth. After Melissa Lucas (Methuen, Mass.) singled to lead off the inning, Julie Towers (Goodlettsville, Tenn.) hit a long fly ball to left field, but it fell just short of the fence and into the glove of the left fielder, as the Blue Demons got out of the inning.
After DePaul got the first two batters in the bottom of the seventh, Gendron hit her third home run of the season to pull UConn to within one at 4-3. Del Ponte then doubled to left center, leaving it up to Truax. Heteniak, the BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year, was able to strike out Truax, the BIG EAST Player of the Year, to give DePaul the win.
Crossin pitched real well in relief, not allowing another run after the second inning. She pitched 5.2 innings, giving up one run and four hits while striking out four. Gendron was the leading hitter for the Huskies, going 2-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI.
UConn reached the BIG EAST semifinals for the first time since 2001 and its 28 wins was the most since that same campaign.
