Softball Opens at Cacciatore Stadium

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CHICAGO – A new era in DePaul softball will begin this weekend as the Blue Demons welcome BIG EAST conference opponents Connecticut and Providence to the newly renovated Cacciatore Stadium on the Lincoln Park Campus.

DePaul tabbed as the BIG EAST favorite in the preseason will play doubleheaders with the Friars and Huskies on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.  Saturday’s games begin at Noon and Sunday’s first pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.

“We are extremely excited about opening at Cacciatore Stadium and the start of BIG EAST play,” head coach Eugene Lenti said.

UConn and Providence sit a top the conference standings after completing conference series’ with Rutgers and Villanova. Connecticut swept both the Scarlet Knights and Wildcats for sole possession of first place; while the Fairs are 3-1 after dropping a game to Villanova.  In 2005 UConn finished the regular season 8-10; while Providence missed the conference tournament after finishing 5-13.   

The Blue Demons embark on their inaugural BIG EAST Conference season after finishing the tournament portion of their schedule 11-8 and won the GRU Florida Tournament February 17-19.  Freshman Amber Patton leads the Blue Demon offense with a .364 batting average and is second on the team with a .404 on base percentage. 

DePaul’s veteran pitchers,  juniors Tracie Adix and Megan Huitink, have combined for a 11-5 record and have giving up just 30 earned runs and 23 walks in 101.1 innings.

DePaul is 16-1 in opening weekend play since 2000.

Weekend Opponent Facts

Providence Friars

Record: 18-5, 3-1 BIG EAST

In the Polls: NR/NR

Series: First Meeting

Next: Notre Dame (Sunday, 4-2-06)

Connecticut Huskies

Record: 14-11, 4-0 BIG EAST

In the Polls: NR/NR

Series: First Meeting

Previous: Notre Dame (Saturday, 4-1-06)

Preseason BIG EAST Favorites

BIG EAST newcomer DePaul has been selected as the preseason favorite to capture the 2006 BIG EAST softball regular season title as voted on by the league’s 12 head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own teams.

The Blue Demons earned eight first-place votes en route to being tabbed as the preseason favorite. DePaul joins the conference following a 2005 campaign in which the Blue Demons captured the Conference USA Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Division I Women’s College World Series before falling to, eventual national champion Michigan and Alabama in the double-elimination tournament. Notre Dame finished second in the preseason poll with conference newcomers USF and Louisville, tabbed to finish third and fourth, respectively.

The 2006 BIG EAST Championship game on May 13 will be aired live from South Bend, Ind. by CSTV. First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m. ET.

Oregon Tournament

DePaul returned to the west coast for the second time in March to participate in the Oregon Tournament, where they split a double-header with BYU, defeated Akron and registered losses against No. 8 Oregon State and Oregon. Sophomore first baseman Marcy Wilus led the Blue Demons with a .429 batting average and .857 slugging percentage. Freshman catcher Jackie Tarulli-Fisher was crowned the weekend’s RBI queen after tallying five over fours days and registered her first collegiate home run against Akron.  Junior Megan Huitink threw two complete games, giving up just three run and three walks. 

DePaul at the Fresno St. Tournament

The Blue Demons participated in the Fresno State Tournament March 9-12th.  DePaul finished 2-3, defeating Central Florida and Ball State, but fell to No. 8 Oregon State, No. 15 Washington and No. 25 Fresno State.  Junior Jessica Evans was named to the All-Tournament team after yielding a perfect fielding percentage and registered two RBI on three hits.  Freshman Amber Patton led DePaul’s offense at the Classic recording a team high .385 batting average (5-13) and two RBI.  Adix finished the tournament with a team low  2.80 ERA, throwing 15 innings giving up 21 hits while fanning 10 batters. 

Blue Demons Crowned GRU Florida Tournament Champions

The DePaul softball team was crowned the GRU Florida Tournament Champions after finishing the weekend 4-1, defeating Longwood, Florida and Penn State twice, but fell to No. 1 Michigan.  The Blue Demon offense was led by sophomore Sandy Vojik, freshman Stephanie Blagaich and junior Kate Sheaks; who combined for .380 batting average, a double and five RBI.  Vojik led the squad with a .400 batting average and was perfect at the plate (4-4) against Florida.  Blagaich’s three RBI and Sheaks two RBI propelled the Blue Demons to their four victories. Junior pitcher Tracie Adix stayed perfect in the circle as she gave up no earned runs and just six hits in 14.1 innings.  Adix threw two complete games to notch victories over Longwood and Penn State, while junior Megan Huitink took the wins over Florida and the first Penn State victory. 

Stetson Tournament Highlights

Blue Demons claimed second place, registering wins over Charleston Southern and two wins over Northern Iowa... freshman Amber Patton led DePaul with five hits and .500 batting average, while junior centerfielder Linda Secka led the team with five RBI on the weekend... junior Kara Amundson recorded her first collegiate triple against Charleston Southern... the pitching staff combined for a 0.52 ERA and gave up just two earned runs in 27.0 innings... junior pitcher Tracie Adix and senior Leslie Scott combined for a 5-0 shutout over Northern Iowa... junior Megan Huitink struck out 13 batters.

TV Time

The Blue Demons are scheduled to be on television twice during the 2006 season.  On April 13, ESPNU will air DePaul’s game at Notre Dame.  The Blue Demons will also be on local television in Louisville when the face the Cardinals on April 28.

 

Slamin’ Sandy

Sophomore Sandy Vojik recorded her first collegiate grand slam against Ball State; sending her second home run of the season over the left field fence.  The sophomore finished the game with a career high 6-RBI on two hits. 

No Singles at Stetson

The Blue Demons combined for six extra base hits during the Stetson Tournament.  Linda Secka, Jessica Evans, and Marcy Wilus all notched doubles, while Amundson and Wilus each blasted triples and Sandy Vojik smashed her first homerun of the season. 

Freshman Starters

Freshman Amber Patton and Stephanie Blagaich each started their first collegiate game on February 10 against Charleston Southern.  The freshman were in the Blue Demons inaugural 2006 Line-Up.

Combining for Zero

Tracie Adix and Leslie Scott combined for the Blue Demons first shut out of the season. Adix threw  six innings, and gave up just one hit while fanning four batters.  Scott threw the final inning, allowing just one hit and struck out two batters.

Freshman Fire

Freshman third baseman, Amber Patton has started her career in a Blue Demon uniform on fire, leading the Blue Demons with a .364 batting average.  Patton recorded her first collegiate hit and RBI against Charleston Southern.  Freshman catcher, Jackie Tarulli-Fisher is also making some noise registering a team high three RBI against Akron and five total RBI at the Oregon Tournament.

DePaul University Athletics

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