SOFTBALL: Lawrie no-hits DePaul, Huskies advance in World Series

Danielle Lawrie wasn't perfect yesterday, but in this case, close was good enough.

Lawrie tossed a complete game no-hitter [HTML_REMOVED] the second no-no by a UW pitcher this season [HTML_REMOVED] to fuel No. 6 seed Washington's (41-17) 3-1 win over No. 14 DePaul (46-12) in the first round of the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City yesterday.

Danielle Lawrie[HTML_REMOVED] 7 IP, 1 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 9 K

Other than a minor jam in the third inning, Lawrie was perfect. She retired the side in order in the first, second, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings en route to an opening round no-hitter.

Dena Tyson's two-run homer in the bottom of the third. Tyson put the Huskies ahead for good with the two-run blast, which was her first of the postseason. Tyson's performance at the plate this weekend will factor heavily in how the UW fares.

The number of hits collected by the DePaul lineup. It was the second no-hitter thrown by a Husky this season: the first coming with Caitlin Noble on the mound against Texas March 18.

"DePaul was a very tough team," coach Heather Tarr told gohuskies.com. "I know we no-hit them, but they were very tough at the plate and were very tough outs."

Lawrie, who was named as a first team All-American earlier this week, did nothing to damage her reputation as one of the best pitchers in the country. She set down the Blue Demons in order in every inning except the third, and struck out nine along the way to push her season record to 30-11.

Tracie Adix took the loss for DePaul, going 3.1 innings while allowing three runs on five hits.

Though the Blue Demons couldn't manage a base hit off of Lawrie, they did get on the scoreboard. Stephanie Blagaich reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and then scored on a throwing error by Lawrie in the top of the third. Lawrie struck out the next batter before coaxing a pop-up to escape any further damage.

Not only was that the final threat of the game for the Blue Demons, but it was the last reminder that DePaul even had an offense. After the error, Lawrie retired every batter she faced [HTML_REMOVED] all 14 of them [HTML_REMOVED] to put the finishing touches on a sterling no-hit performance.

"[Throwing a no-hitter in the WCWS] was awesome and something I am going to always remember. It was a great feeling," Lawrie told gohuskies. "There is not much more to say other than thanks to Alicia [Matthews] for helping me out and calling a great game. Without her helping me stay consistent and keeping teams off balance, I would be nowhere."

Just as soon as DePaul's offense disappeared, Washington's woke up. With Ashley Charters on third base with two outs in the bottom of the third, first team All-American Dena Tyson deposited an Adix delivery over the left field fence for her 18th home run of the year, giving the UW a 2-1 lead.

The Huskies tacked on a run in the fourth, using Ashlyn Watson's second home run of the season to account for the final 3-1 margin.

"It was a great job by Dena for staying tough after her first at-bat by knocking Ashley Charters in with a home run," Tarr told gohuskies. "Ashlyn really took the wind out of their sails with the other one. We did a good job."

To the Blue Demons' credit, their pitching staff held its own [HTML_REMOVED] after Adix's shaky three and one third innings, Becca Heteniak took over and shut the Huskies down. Heteniak pitched 2.2 innings without allowing a hit, while striking out five.

The Huskies will take on No. 2 Northwestern tomorrow at 4 p.m. The Wildcats defeated No. 7 Arizona State 2-0 yesterday afternoon.

Reach reporter Christian Caple at sports@thedaily.washington.edu.