DePaul University Athletics
Softball Faces Charlotte
3/21/2001 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
DePaul moved back into the top 10 in the NFCA/USA Today Coaches Poll for the first time since the preseason poll was released. The Blue Demons are 10th in the poll released March 21.
Last Time Out
For the first time in six tries, DePaul advanced to the semi-finals and finals of the Kia Klassic. The Blue Demons beat Texas 2-0 in the semi-final and lost to then no. 10 Cal-State Fullerton 1-0 in the championship. DePaul closed the weekend 4-3.
Big Win
By beating no. 5 and defending National Champions Oklahoma 3-2 in the second round of bracket play, DePaul earned its first victory over a top five team since beating Arizona in the 1999 College World Series. Below is a brief recap of the game:
With the game tied 2-2 in the sixth inning, Katy Kukman drew a two-out, bases loaded, full count walk giving DePaul the eventual game-winning run.
Sarah Martz threw two innings of relief to pick up the win. She struck out the side in the seventh to secure the game.
Conference USA
Pitcher of the Week
Freshman Sarah Martz was named Conference USA's "Pitcher of the Week" for March 19. Martz went 3-1 at the Kia Klassic including wins over no. 5 Oklahoma, North Carolina and UNLV. In 23 innings, she struck out 19, walked one and gave up just three earned runs.
Desecki heating up
Junior All-America candidate Shavaughne Desecki has been beginning to find her stroke at the plate. Desecki batted .450 (9-for-20) in seven games last weekend and all but one of the teams was ranked or receiving votes in last week's NFCA top 25 poll.
She delivered a two out, two run single against North Carolina breaking a 1-1 tie. Desecki was also 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored in the team's first game against Cal-State Fullerton.
Jakusz in the clutch
Senior outfielder Dana Jakusz has been an RBI machine for DePaul. She leads the team with 11 and padded that total with a two-run homerun against Cal-State Fullerton. She also had a double and a triple in the Blue Demons' win over Oklahoma. Dana has batted .412 with runners in scoring position this season.
This Weekend
Before Conference USA added softball to its roster of sports last season, DePaul and Charlotte had met only once. The Blue Demons swept the doubleheader in Charlotte last season. The teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader at noon on Saturday, March 24 and a single game Sunday also at noon.
Series History
Below is the series history with Charlotte:
DePaul leads 3-0
4-19-97: DPU 5, UNCC 1
4-16-00: DPU 4, UNCC 2
4-16-00: DPU 6, UNCC 0
Weathered the storm
DePaul survived the most difficult portion of its schedule intact and ranked 10th in the nation. The Blue Demons competed in three prestigious and highly comptetive tournaments in the last month.
Overall, DePaul finished the stretch 10-7-1 with all of the losses and the tie coming against teams ranked in the top 15. Included in DePaul's wins were victories over no. 5 Oklahoma, no. 16 Nebraska, and North Carolina and Texas who were each receiving votes.
The next ranked opponent DePaul will face is no. 24 Michigan on March 30. Below is a list of ranked opponents on the Blue Demons' schedule:
USA Today/NFCA Poll
March 21
records through 3-21
| School | Rank | Record |
| UCLA | 1 | 35-0 |
| California | 3 | 32-1 |
| Cal-St. Fullerton | 8 | 25-8 |
| Arizona St. | 9 | 25-8 |
| Fresno St. | 11 | 17-8 |
| Notre Dame | 12 | 18-3 |
| Oregon St. | 15 | 21-10-1 |
| Nebraska | 18 | 21-9 |
| Michigan | 24 | 9-9 |
| Texas | 30 | 16-14 |
| North Carolina | 32 | 17-10-1 |
| Combined Record | 236-80-2 |
Dropped out of voting since preseason poll: UIC, South Florida, Northwestern, Southern Miss
Young All-Americans
DePaul has had a freshman All-American in each of the last two years. Shavaughne Desecki in 1999 and Lindsay Chouinard in 2000. Sarah Martz and Sarah Douglas are the best candidates to continue that trend.
Martz, who set the Illinois high school state records for career wins (103) and strikeouts (1,402) and batted .515 with 42 stolen bases as a high school senior, has seen her biggest impact has come from her pitching. Martz is 9-3 with wins over no. 5 Oklahoma, then no. 16 Nebraska and North Carolina. In addition she is hitting .286 with team highs in runs (11), hits (22) and stolen bases (3).
Douglas on the other hand has stepped in and become the starting firstbaseman while leading the team in hitting at .322 and is second in RBI (8). Douglas is also batting .417 with runners in scoring position.
Streaking
Entering their first conference games of the season, the Blue Demons bring a 14-game regular season winning streak against C-USA opponents into the Charlotte series.
Top pick in C-USA
The coaches in Conference USA selected the Blue Demons as the preseason favorite to win the league. DePaul finished second to Southern Miss last year, the first for C-USA softball. Both teams had just one loss, to each other, but Southern Miss held the tiebreaker due to completeing more conference games. They were 16-1 to DePaul's 14-1.
C-USA player of the year
Shavaughne Desecki was tabbed as the C-USA preseason “Player of the Year." Desecki led the team in batting last year with a .376 average, 11 2B and nine HR and was named first team all-conference and all-Midwest Region.
More C-USA honors
Lindsay Chouinard was chosen preseason "Pitcher of the Year." The sophomore was a third team All-American last year while leading the team in wins, strikeouts, innings and saves. Chouinard was also named C-USA Freshman of the year and All-Midwest region.
Young but experienced
The four seniors on this year’s team are the fewest DePaul has had in three years. They had just one in 1998. The Blue Demons return six starters to a squad that won 40 games for the sixth time in seven years. The team has averaged 45 wins a year for the past five seasons.
Kissing your sister
For the first time since May 1, 1990 DePaul tied an opponent. The Blue Demons registered the tie in the semi-finals of the NFCA Leadoff Classic. DePaul and no.14 Oregon State played scoreless through eight innings before DePaul was able to push a run across in the top of the ninth. The game ended due to rain before it could be completed and was declared a tie since the eighth was the last official inning.
Missouri Champs
For the first time in over 10 years, DePaul was crowned champion in a preseason tournament. The Blue Demons topped Missouri 3-0 in the championship game of the Missouri Round Robin Tournament.
Seeing Double?
The Douglas sisters, Sarah and Christina, are identical twins. Christina emerged 19 minutes after Sarah much to the surprise of her parents and doctors, who had not anticipated twins.
Roster Change
Junior pitcher Vanessa Saavedra (#24) is no longer with the team. She withdrew for personal reasons.
