DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Faces Illinois in NCAA Regional Opener
5/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
CHICAGO - DePaul is headed back to the "Show-Me State" for the NCAA Championship tournament.
Last year, the Blue Demons advanced to the NCAA regional finals before losing to Missouri 1-0 on the Tigers' home field.
DePaul (38-16) will be back in Columbia, Mo. for another shot at capturing a regional title when it opens against Big Ten power Illinois (43-6) at 4 p.m. on Friday.
Missouri (46-11) will take on Creighton (37-21) at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
"This is a good bracket to be in," said DePaul coach Eugene Lenti. "It's the most evenly matched regional.
"When you look at the brackets, we're in a regional with the No. 9 overall seed Missouri, and if we advance to the Super Regional, we could be facing the No. 8 seed Georgia Tech."
The Blue Demons upset then-No. 17 Illinois 3-2 on May 6 at Cacciatore Stadium as Shea Warren ripped a two-run double off the right-field fence and Samantha Dodd followed with an RBI single.
Bree Brown was the winning pitcher after limiting the potent Illini attack to a pair of unearned runs and four hits while striking out nine.
Lenti said his team learned a lesson last year when it lost its regional opener to Bradley and had to battle back through the loser's bracket in the double-elimination format.
When the Blue Demons reached the regional finals, they had to beat Missouri twice in order to make the Super Regional.
"They learned from last year, and the coaches are going to emphasize that," Lenti said. "Your path is a lot easier if you stay in the winner's bracket.
"You win your first two games and wait for whoever emerges from the loser's bracket. For somebody to beat you twice in a row is tough---especially with the pitching we have.
"With Becca Heteniak and Bree Brown, nobody can match the depth of our staff in our region."
This is the fourth-straight NCAA tournament appearance for DePaul and 13th in the last 14 years. The Blue Demons advanced to the Women's College World Series in 2007, 2005, 2000 and 1999.
They have a 1-0 record against Illinois in NCAA tournament play and are 3-1 against Missouri. They have never played Creighton in the NCAA tournament.
