Pirates Drop Both Ends of Doubleheader to DePaul

(Photo: SHU Athletics)

By: Chris Famularo

The Pirates dropped both ends of their Saturday doubleheader as they opened up Big East play against the DePaul Blue Demons. They fell in the first game by a 3-2 final before falling 6-1 in the second game.

Reganne Camp started off strong in the circle with a quick three outs to bring the Pirates to the plate. This is when Janae Barracato delivered a big time hit with a solo shot over the right field fence to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead. The Pirates continued a hot start with a Haley Arteaga RBI single to drive in the second of the inning. DePaul would respond with an RBI double from Haydn Christensen in the 2nd inning to cut the lead to only one run.

The Blue Demons would reawaken in the 4th inning with an RBI single from Christensen to tie the game 2-2. An impressive defensive effort from Hailey Arteaga with a diving catch prevented a possible rally from DePaul. Camp escaped the inning only allowing two hits and one run.

DePaul was then able to take the lead in the 6th inning after an error by second baseman Sara Foster allowed the go-ahead run to come home to give DePaul a 3-2 lead.

The Pirates were not able to respond in either of the final two innings, even after getting two baserunners on to start both frames. Payton Beaver drove one to the warning track in centerfield which would have won the game if it had stretched abit further, but it stayed in the ballpark to give DePaul the win. Head Coach Paige Smith was impressed with Camps return to play after a long layoff.

"The best part of her game is her mental game," Coach Smith said. "Anytime something goes wrong you will hear her say 'I got you all,' and it's the coolest thing because you know she is going to put the whole team on her back."

Madison Strunk was the starting pitcher for the Hall in the second game. The Blue Demons took the lead first with a two-run home run by Skylor Hilger, followed up by a double steal that scored a run to take a 3-0 over the Hall. DePaul would strike again in the sixth with three more runs from a solo shot to left field from Megan Leyva and then a double from Skylor Hilger.

Janae Barracato lead off for the Pirates in the bottom of the sixth where she clubbed a deep home run to center field, her second homerun of the doubleheader, to make the score 6-1. Coach Smith had high praise for Barracato's production.

"What I love about her is that she is always adjusting," Coach Smith said. "Making the opponent get her out in a different way and then pounces when she gets what she wants."

The Pirates will be back in action to finish out the series against DePaul Sunday March 25 at 12 p.m. Catch all the action on wsou.net.

Chris Famularo can be reached at christopher.famularo@student.shu.edu.