DePaul Falls to Cal In NCAA Softball

Sarah Martz

The No. 1 seeded DePaul Blue Demons lost a nailbiter to No. 2 California 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh on Saturday at the NCAA Regional at Ann Arbor. DePaul (48-6-1) had two outs on the Golden Bears in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded when California’s first baseman Veronica Nelson hit a single for the walk off win.

Lindsay Chouinard (33-5) took the loss for the Blue Demons. She struck out three batters and scattered five hits in seven innings pitched.

Cal threatened early putting runners on first and third in the bottom of the second on a walk and a base hit. With two outs, Chouinard shut down any chance for the Bears to score with a strike out.

Dana Kenney grabbed DePaul’s first hit of the game in the top of the third but the Demons couldn’t manage a timely hit to send her home.

The Bears threatened again in the bottom of the third but a spectacular double play robbed Cal of any runs. Vicky Galindo walked, stole second and advanced in to scoring position on a DePaul throwing error. With one out, Lindsay James lined to the left side but DePaul’s shortstop Sara Bandauski stole it out of the air and caught Galindo at third who could not tag up in time.

In the top of the fourth, DePaul led off with a ground out and a strikeout. Chouinard kept the Demons alive with a double to left field. Sarah Douglas then walked but a ground out cut the rally short for DePaul.

The tension continued in the bottom of the inning when the Bears put two runners on with two singles to center field. The bases loaded on a catcher interference. With two outs, the Blue Demons’ defense ended the inning with a caught pop-up and a ground out.

DePaul’s Dana Kenney walked in the top of the fifth and Christina Douglas followed with an infield single. Bouck struck out for the second out of the inning. Sarah Martz ripped one towards the left side but Cal’s shortstop made a diving save and threw it to third in time to force out Kenney.

In the bottom of the sixth, Cal put two runners on base on two singles. Kaleo Eldredge then singled to center field. Sarah Martz scooped up the hit and fired it home to throw out Courtney Scott who attempted to score. DePaul kept tight defense and prevented any Cal runs.

Cal loaded the bases on a single and two walks. With two outs, clean-up hitter Nelson hit a single to left field to send the winning run home.

The Blue Demons will immediately play Michigan. The winner will advance to play California tomorrow at Noon.