Northwestern expected to have its hands full with DePaul ace Kirsten Verdun taking the circle.
On top of the sophomore’s strong performance, the Blue Demons’ bats inflicted additional damage Wednesday. The combination proved too much for the Wildcats, who struggled mightily in a 6-1 defeat.
“They played typical DePaul softball, and we didn’t execute,” coach Kate Drohan said.
The trouble began on defense for NU with three early errors, translating into four unearned runs for an opportunistic DePaul offense. Pitchers
Meghan Lamberth and Amy Letourneau failed to help their own cause, each committing an error.
“The core of the team is our defense,” sophomore designated hitter Sammy Albanese said. “We were a little bit sloppy. We need to get our defense going.”
In the circle, Lamberth labored through her two-plus innings of work allowing six hits and five runs. DePaul second baseman Lynsey Ciezki opened the bottom of the first with a single to left field, and the inning spiraled out of control from there. The Blue Demons hit three infield singles in the frame and staked themselves a 2-0 advantage after the first frame.
In the second, DePaul increased its lead on a Paige Peterson homer to center field which just went over the outstretched glove of junior outfielder Kristin Scharkey. The Blue Demons continued to give Verdun breathing room, seizing a 6-0 edge after three innings of play. Letourneau came on
in relief and allowed just one unearned run in four innings. She said DePaul came out swinging for the fences.
“They were there to hit,” she said. “They were very aggressive and swung at a lot of balls in and out of the (strike) zone.”
NU hitters showed signs of life against Verdun, but the sophomore pitched well in the clutch. The Cats had their first opportunity in the third, loading the bases with two outs for sophomore third baseman Marisa Bast. Verdun weaseled her way out of trouble, getting Bast to pop out.
Drohan said her meetings between innings focused on hitting after the slow start.
“We were trying to make specific adjustments and change our approach,” she said. “We came out flat.”
Albanese provided a spark as a pinch-hitter in the fourth, lining a home run over the left field wall. After taking the first pitch to focus on timing, she capitalized on one of Verdun’s few mistakes.
“Next pitch, I saw it on the inner half, belt-high, and I know that’s my sweet spot,” she said.
Even after Albanese put the Cats on the scoreboard, the team celebration at home plate was extremely subdued.
The Cats attempted to rally in the fifth, but with runners on first and third and two outs, Bast popped out again to end the threat. Verdun earned her 23rd win and lowered her ERA to an impressive 1.71 on the season. Albanese said Verdun should receive a great deal of credit, however she said NU did not play up to its potential at the plate.
“She was a very solid pitcher and we need to respect that,” she said. “I don’t doubt for one second that we could’ve gotten a big hit, but we didn’t capitalize the way we needed to.”
