Softball Hosts BIG EAST Opponents Syracuse and Pittsburgh

CHICAGO – The No. 23/18 DePaul softball looks to extend its BIG EAST Conference winning streak this weekend as it hosts doubleheaders with Syracuse and Pittsburgh.  Saturday's doubleheader with the Orange is slated to begin at Noon, while Sunday's first pitch with the Panthers is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Cacciatore Stadium.

The Blue Demons (20-7, 4-0 BIG EAST) opened the conference season, with wins over Seton Hall and St. John's and have won 14 of their last 16 games.  DePaul recorded back-to-back shutouts over Seton Hall and outscored St. John's, 12-6 last week in league play. 

DePaul senior left fielder and lead-off hitter Kate Sheaks was a big reason for the Blue Demons success last week.  The senior was named the BIG EAST Player of the Week for the second time this season after extending her season-long hitting streak to six games.  Sheaks leads the Blue Demons with a .329 batting average and is second on the team with a .476 slugging percentage. 

Right handed pitchers Tracie Adix and Becca Heteniak have combined for a 15-4 record in the circle this season and are both 2-0 in league play.  The duo has yet to give up an earned run in conference play, and both boast season ERA's below 1.00. 

Syracuse and Pittsburgh are both making their inaugural trips to Chicago as DePaul had faced neither team before joining the BIG EAST Conference in 2005-06.  Syracuse (10-20, 3-1) leads the overall series with DePaul 2-1; but the Blue Demons won the last meeting 8-0 in five innings at the BIG EAST Championship in 2006.  DePaul is a perfect 2-0 against the Panthers (14-19, 2-1) and outscored them in 2006, 17-1.

DePaul is 238-41 all-time in regular season conference games and have not lost a league game at home since 2005.   

A Quick Look at this Weekend's Opponents

No. 23/18 DePaul (20-7, 4-0 BIG EAST)

The Blue Demons have won 16 of their last 14 games including a win over then-No. 8 Texas.  Tracie Adix (8-1) leads DePaul with a 0.72 ERA and has struck out a team-high 74 batters in 77.1 innings of work.  Kate Sheaks guides the Blue Demon offense with a .329 batting average, while Marcy Wilus has knocked in a team-high 16 runs. 

Syracuse (10-20, 3-1 BIG EAST)

Syracuse leads the all-time series, 1-2
Last meeting: DePaul won, 8-0 (2006, BIG EAST Championship)
Last outing: W, vs. Connecticut, 6-4 (3/25)
Next Opponent: at Notre Dame (4/1)

Pittsburgh (14-19, 2-1 BIG EAST)

DePaul leads the all-time series 2-0

Last meeting: DePaul won, 7-1 (4/8/06 in Pittsburgh)

Last outing: L to Akron, 4-3 (3/28)

Next Opponent: at Buffalo (4/4)

*Live Stats will begin immediately after the first pitch.

DePaul University Athletics

Softball Hosts BIG EAST Opponents Syracuse and Pittsburgh

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