Softball Heads to C-USA Tournament
5/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
Conference
Gametracker for All Games
DePaul swept Southern Miss during the regular season, outscoring the Golden Eagles 21-5. The Blue Demons took two out of three from
Entering the tournament the Blue Demons are led by senior All-American Saskia Roberson, who has blasted 12 home runs during the regular season and was second among Blue Demon regulars with a .345 batting average. Senior Ashley Parker led DePaul with a .360 average. Sophomore Megan Huitink enters the tournament averaging more than a strikeout per inning pitched as the lefthander fanned 190 this season in 180.1 innings.
All-Conference Selections
The Blue Demons had five players named to an All-Conference team and two were selected to the All-Freshman team. Senior outfielder Dana Kenney, sophomore pitcher Megan Huitink and freshman utility player Sandy Vojik were all named to the first team. Senior first basemen Saskia Roberson and senior outfielder Ashley Parker were named to the second team. Designated player Marcy Wilus and Vojik were each named to the All-Freshman team.
Since joining C-USA in 2000, the Blue Demons have had 25 first team selections and eight All-Freshman team members.
Last Week
For the first time this season, the Blue Demons were recognized by the ESPN.com, USA Today Top 25, making their debut at No. 25. The Blue Demons dropped a 2-1 decision to No. 15 Northwestern and then took a pair of games from Loyola later in the week. The Blue Demons defeated the Rambler 4-3 and 8-0. Over the weekend, the Blue Demons suffered their first C-
C-USA Tournament
DePaul has won the last three Conference USA Tournament titles. Last season, the Blue Demons entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed, dropping their first game, but worked their way through the loser’s bracket to win the crown. The Blue Demons were the No. 1 seed in 2002 and 2003 when they won tournament title. DePaul won their first C-USA Tournament in 2002 in
DePaul and Southern Miss are the only two teams to win the tournament. Southern Miss won the title in 2000 and 2001.
C-USA All-Decade
Head softball coach Eugene Lenti was named C-USA Coach of the Decade and former Blue Demon and current assistant softball coach Lindsay Chouinard was named Player of Decade. Current DePaul assistant Liz Bouck joined Chouinard on the All-Decade roster along with senior Saskia Roberson and Sarah Martz (2001-04).
Huitink Named Pitcher of the Week
For the second time this season, sophomore Megan Huitink was named Conference USA Pitcher of the Week. The sophomore threw back-to-back shutouts and helped the Blue Demons to a perfect 5-0 record for the week ending May 1. She won two of DePaul’s five games, posting a 0.00 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 15 innings of work. Huitink was also credited with a save at USF.
No Hit Huitink
Sophomore pitcher Megan Huitink threw her first career no-hitter against Florida Atlantic on February 26, while the Blue Demons were competing at the NFCA Classic. Huitink became only the sixth pitcher in the NFCA Classic’s ten-year history to throw a no hitter. The sophomore struck out 12 of the 24 batters she faced.
Huitink and Kenney Sweep C-USA Honors
Sophomore Megan Huitink and senior Dana Kenney swept the Conference USA weekly softball awards after leading their team to a perfect 3-0 record in league play and 6-1 record overall for the week ending April 17. Huitink was named Pitcher of the Week, while Kenney was named Hitter of the Week.
Huitink won four of DePaul’s six games last week posting a perfect 4-0 record with 31 strikeouts a 0.52 ERA and recorded her third shutout against
Kenney went 9-for-11 at the plate in the Blue Demons’ sweep of
Roberson C-
Seniors Saskia Roberson and Houston’s Kristin Glowacz are locked in a pair of tight races to see who will finish their respective careers as Conference USA’s all-time home run and RBI leaders. Through games of May 10 both seniors have surpassed the previous home run mark of 38. Roberson currently has a one home run lead over Glowacz and trails her by seven, in the RBI race.
Roberson Putting Out the Records
Senior All-American Saskia Roberson has her eyes on three DePaul career records, for putouts, RBI and doubles. The senior began the season with 878 putouts, 134 RBI and 31 doubles; needing 458 putouts and 44 RBI to take over the records and 13 doubles to enter the top-five. With the regular season complete, Roberson has registered 456 putouts, 34 RBI and nine doubles. The senior already holds the school record home runs, a record she broke as a junior. Roberson now has 48 career home runs.
Evans Streak
Sophomore Jessica Evans rode the wave of a nine game hitting streak, from March 26 - April 13 at
Senior’s Seeing Double
Jenny Doezie and Saskia Roberson became members of the double-double club this season. The two seniors have recorded two doubles in one game. Doezie registered her first double-double game against
Adix in the Circle
Sophomore right handed pitcher Tracie Adix had an exceptional couple of weeks, from March 22 – May 5. She appeared in 18 games picking up the win in 15 of those games. The sophomore (21-7) allowed just 13 earned runs and has struck out 49 batters for a 0.90 ERA in 100.2 innings of work.
Collegiate Firsts
Freshman Sandy Vojik and junior Sara Bandauski each registered their first collegiate home run during the three-game Conference
Nine!
The Blue Demons rode the wave of a nine games winning streak from March 26-April 10. DePaul, streak was broken by a 7-6, loss at
So Hard to Say Good-Bye
The Blue Demons celebrated Senior Day on Sunday, May 8. The Blue Demons said good-bye and thanked their five seniors, Jenny Doezie, Kathleen Goss, Dana Kenney, Ashley Parker and Saskia Roberson. The seniors have appeared in three NCAA Regionals, won three C-USA Tournaments and two regular season C-USA crowns. Over the last four seasons, the five seniors have helped DePaul to a 162-64 record.
Tournament Season
The Blue Demons participated in some of the nation’s best tournaments, the Clearwater Invitational, the Stanford Invitational, the NFCA Lead-Off Classic and the KIA KLASSIC. The Blue Demons faced eight ranked team in their first 18 games. They picked up a pair of wins over ranked teams, they defeated No. 4 Oklahoma, 4-1 at the Clearwater Invitational and they shutout No. 18 Nebraska, 2-0 at the KIA Klassic.
Becoming Cacciatore Stadium
DePaul played their final game on Wish Field, Sunday May 8th. The field closed for improvements on May 9th and will reopen with its new name, Cacciatore Stadium in 2006. The stadium will feature covered dugouts, enhanced batting cages and bullpen areas, permanent seating and a working press box.