No. 23 DePaul Downs UW-Green Bay 4-0
May 21, 2005 | Softball
A pair of seventh-inning home runs helped 23rd-ranked DePaul pull away from UW-Green Bay for a 4-0 win during the second day of NCAA regional softball action at Goodman Diamond Saturday afternoon.
The Blue Demons (42-18) advance to Sunday's championship round Sunday morning beginning at 11 a.m. A second game will follow, if necessary, at 1:30 p.m. The Phoenix (27-17) will take on the winner of Saturday afternoon's second game between Oregon State and Wisconsin at 5 p.m. Saturday.
DePaul led 1-0 entering the top of the seventh when Saskia Roberson hit a solo home run and Kate Sheaks hit a two-run shot to gain three key insurance runs.
Megan Huitink (19-10) struck out 10 and allowed just three hits in earning the complete-game shutout win. Lisa Meissner (9-7) took the loss for UWGB.
Game Notes
UW-Green Bay and DePaul played each other for the first time since 1994 ' with the win by DePaul, the Blue Demons improved to 17-8 all-time against the Phoenix ' UW-Green Bay falls to 1-1 all-time in the NCAA postseason, while DePaul improves to 22-16
DePaul improves to 42-18 on the season and 22-16 in NCAA tournament play ' the Blue Demons advance to their first regional final appearance since 2002
DePaul recorded its second shutout of the regional after defeating Wisconsin, 6-0, on Friday ' it is the Blue Demons 15th shutout in 11 regional appearances
DePaul senior All-American Saskia Roberson has hit two home runs in her third straight NCAA Regional ' she tied the Conference USA record for career RBI at 175 with a solo shot over the left-field wall in the top of the seventh inning
Winning pitcher Megan Huitink recorded double-digit strikeouts (10) for the fourth time this season ' it was also her ninth shutout of the season
The loss stops UW-Green Bay's six-game winning streak, dropping the Phoenix to 27-17 on the season and 1-1 in NCAA play
Green Bay's best opportunity to score came in the bottom of the fifth when it left three players on base ' with bases loaded and two outs, pitch hitter Cori Thierman struck out swinging
Post-game Quotations
DePaul Head Coach Eugene Lenti
On advancing to the regional final:
'It's just been a great ride for this team. There wasn't very high expectations for this team because we returned a pitching staff with five college wins. So now here we are at 42-18 and we're in the regional final and we're playing on Sunday and that's what you always try to do. It's just been an unbelievable experience because we're gaining a lot NCAA experience against quality NCAA teams and we're putting ourselves in situations to win every game.'
On the three-run seventh inning:
'I think it's the third time you see the same pitcher. We got our third look at her and it was our better hitters in the order. Ski (Saskia Roberson) hits the home run then we follow with Linda's (Secka) bunt. That was really the key to the game right there.
UW-Green Bay Jean Rivitt
On leaving three runners on base in the fifth:
'That really put a damper on ' Our big hitters we 're coming up the next inning and we thought we could pull through but then when you let them get a couple of home runs ' We always tell our pitchers that with two outs you have to go after them strong, get a few strikes on them. A credit to them (DePaul).
