2004 NCAA Softball Regional -- Game 6 Recap
5/21/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
2004 NCAA Softball Regional
DePaul 8, Canisius 0 (5 innings)
Game 6 -- Friday, May 21 -- 10:00 a.m.
Alumni Field, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Records: DePaul (30-30-1), Canisius (23-30)
Next DePaul Game: Friday, May 21 -- vs. Tennessee/Oregon State loser, 8 p.m.
Next Canisius Game: Canisius eliminated with 0-2 record
Roberson's Bat Leads Blue Demons Past Golden Griffins
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 5 seed DePaul Blue Demons eliminated No. 8 Cansius from the 2004 NCAA Regional 6 Tournament by an 8-0 score in five innings Friday morning (May 21) at Alumni Field. The Blue Demons (30-30-1) were paced once again by the strong bat of first baseman Saskia Roberson, as the junior batted in five runs with a home run in the first inning and a double in the fifth. Senior pitcher Sarah Martz pitched a complete game, allowing four hits and striking out four batters to improve to 24-15 this season.
Canisius junior pitcher Andrea Bunten (16-10) started off the game by walking freshman outfielder Linda Secka, and the runner advanced to second after a sacrifice bunt by Martz. Roberson then stepped up to the plate and sent a deep shot over the rightfield fence to put the Blue Demons ahead 2-0. Bunten was able to avoid further damage by striking out sophomore catcher Sara Polensky with the bases loaded to end the inning.
The Golden Griffins had a chance to get on the scoreboard in the following inning, as senior outfielder Tempie Coelho-Freeman doubled to right-center to advance junior first baseman Beth Enk to third base with two outs. However, Martz got senior catcher Melissa King to pop up to for the third out.
DePaul increased its cushion to three runs in the fourth inning, as Martz doubled to left-center to score Secka from second. The Blue Demons then went up 4-0 in the fifth after Polensky singled home sophomore shortstop Sara Bandauski, and Secka kept things going with a sacrifice fly to score junior outfielder Dana Kenney. Roberson capped off the scoring with a three-run double to left-center to end the game.
DePaul will play again at 8 p.m. Friday, facing off against the loser of the No. 2 seed Tennessee/No. 3 seed Oregon State game at Alumni Field.
Q U O T E S
DePaul Head Coach Eugene Lenti
On his team's hitting against Canisius' Andrea Bunten ... "We got to watch her yesterday. A lot of the kids stuck around and saw what she was throwing. I think that made us more familiar with how she was throwing. We were able to use our power to our advantage today. Sara pitched really well and we defended a lot better."
On the experience factor in a regional ... "I think it is a tremendous help. It is really great that we have been able to get some of our freshmen in."
DePaul Junior First Baseman Siskia Roberson
On how she is seeing the ball ... "I'm just relaxed and confident. I'm having fun and I'm not ready to go home."
On adjustments made on Canisius pitcher ... "We knew we had to stay off the riseball. Everything else wasn't really overpowering."
Canisius Head Coach Mike Rappl
On the game ... "The key was early when they hit the two-run homer. We had a chance to answer back but we didn't execute the sacrifice bunt and the next batter hit the double. We ended up with runners on seconnd and third instead of 2-1. We also didn't execute some plays in the infield that we should have, and you can't give a good team extra chances."
N O T E S
DePaul junior infielder Saskia Roberson drove in five runs today to tie a season best. She also tallied five RBI against Notre Dame in the regional first round.
DePaul freshman outfielder Linda Secka extended her hitting streak to 12 games. She was 1-for-2 against Canisius.
Canisius senior outfielder Tempe Coelho-Freeeman went 2-for-2 in her final game for the Golden Griffins.
Canisius junior first baseman Beth Enk was the only other Golden Griffin with two hits. She also went 2-for-2 against DePaul.
