DePaul downs Missouri 2-0, advances to Regional Championship game
05/19/2007 | 12:00:00 | Softball
May 19, 2007
By Matt Maxey
www.siusalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - No. 14 DePaul University (43-11) used a pair of runs in the sixth inning to defeat No. 18 Missouri (39-23) 2-0 in the 2007 NCAA Softball Carbondale Regional.
With the win, DePaul advances to the championship round Sunday afternoon and will face the winner of Saturday's third game between Missouri and the winner of game two between Southern Illinois University and Mississippi Valley State University.
Missouri's Jen Bruck and Tracie Adix from DePaul squared off in a true pitcher's duel, each allowing only four hits on the day. The deciding break for DePaul came in the sixth inning when they were able to capitalize on two Missouri errors.
Shea Warren reached on a throwing error by Bruck to lead off the inning. After an Amber Patton single to right field, Marcy Wilus also singled to right and advanced to second on a fielding error by Julie Silver in right field when she bobbled the ball.
The error also allowed Patton to advance to third and Bruck to score the first run of the game. DePaul scored its second run when Kate Sheaks singled through the left side, scoring Wilus and giving the Blue Demons a 2-0 advantage.
Missouri had an opportunity to answer in the bottom of the seventh inning when Micaela Minner doubled to left field. She was advanced to third by an Andee Allen grounder, but that was as close as the Tigers would come.
A Kathy Masterson pop fly to second ended the Missouri rally attempt and sealed DePaul's spot in the championship game Sunday.
Adix earned the win for DePaul, improving her record to 19-2 on the year. She tossed a complete game, scattering four hits while striking out three. Amber Patton was 2-for-3 at the plate while Wilus was 1-for-2 with and RBI and a run scored.
Missouri's Bruck saw her overall record fall to 21-10. Bruck also scattered four hits over seven innings, striking out two but also allowing two runs. Minner went 2-for-3 at the plate while Leanne Bowers and Sarah Stringer also picked up hits for the Tigers.
Missouri will now face the winner of the Southern Illinois and Mississippi Valley State contest at 5 p.m. Saturday. The winner of that match-up will then move on to Sunday's championship games to face DePaul for a chance to clinch the NCAA Regional title and continue on to the Super Regionals.