DePaul Headed Back to NCAA Softball Tournament
5/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
May 15, 2011
NCAA Championship Bracket (pdf) 
CHICAGO - A loud roar erupted in the Rev. Munster Conference Room Sunday night as DePaul's name flashed across the screen during the NCAA Softball Selection Show on ESPNU.
"We were pretty nervous to tell you the truth," said Blue Demon right-fielder Sean Plese. "As a senior, it's really exciting to be going to our fourth NCAA tournament in a row."
Described as a "bubble team" by DePaul coach Eugene Lenti, DePaul (39-18) will face Big 10 power Indiana (37-16) at 4 p.m. Friday in the Missouri regional. The host Tigers (46-7) will take on Illinois State (35-17) in the double-elimination tournament.
"It's great for our players that all their hard work and effort has been rewarded," Lenti said. "By no means was it a sure thing that we were getting in.
"But based on the season we had, the selection committee awarded us with an at-large bid."
The Blue Demons have beaten Indiana and Illinois State this season and did not face No. 9/6 Missouri. This is the 14th time DePaul has qualified for the NCAA Championship tournament in the last 15 years. The Blue Demons have advanced to the Women's College World Series four times.
DePaul jumped out to a 7-0 lead against the Hoosiers Feb. 18 in the USF tournament at Clearwater, Fla. en route to a 7-3 victory. Alex Morocco went 3-for-5 with two RBIs in heading up a 10-hit attack against Indiana ace Morgan Melloh, who is 32-15 with a 1.62 earned-run average and 477 strikeouts in 307.1 innings.
Bree Brown scattered eight hits in gaining the win for DePaul.
The Blue Demons outslugged Illinois State 10-6 on April 12 at Cacciatore Stadium. They jumped out to a 6-0 lead behind the hitting of Morocco, Kirsten Verdun and Brittney Yniguez. The Redbirds rallied to tie it 6-6 in the top of the sixth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Megan Coronado blasted a pinch-hit, three-run home run.
"We're familiar with all the teams, and everyone except the freshmen have played in Columbia before," Lenti said. "The down side to that is your opponents have faced your pitchers before.
"Indiana is a great team that has enjoyed a highly successful season. They have a dominant pitcher in Melloh, and we'll have to be prepared for her."
To that end, the Blue Demons have been sharpening up their offense.
"Coach Lenti tells us that our pitching and defense are going to be there," said Plese, who leads the team with a .404 batting average. "It's the offense that could make the difference.
"We've been scrimmaging a lot, encountering game situations and facing live pitching."
One Blue Demon who his hitting her stride just in time for the postseason is Lynsey Ciezki, who led DePaul to a 5-2 victory over Rutgers in the BIG EAST Championship opener and was named to the all-tournament team.
"Lynsey played well at the BIG EAST tournament, both offensively and defensively," Lenti said. "Our whole team will need to excel in hitting, pitching and defense at the regionals.
"Melloh is a very good pitcher and Missouri's Chelsea Thomas is among the 10 finalist for national Player of the Year."
