Softball Heads to Samford Tournament

CHICAGO - DePaul softball travels to Birmingham, Ala. for their third tournament weekend of the 2020 season. The Blue Demons currently sit 4-6 through the first two weeks of the season. They will take on opponents Georgia Tech, host Samford and their first top-25 opponent of the season in No. 13/11 Kentucky for the second season in a row they will compete at the Samford Tournament.

Senior third baseman Erin Andris leads the team with four home runs and 13 RBIs with a .368 batting average and a .737 slugging percentage. Behind her is sophomore utility player Gabby O'Riley with two home runs and nine RBIs. She is hitting .355 with a .645 slugging percentage.

In the circle, senior pitcher Krista Dalgarn sits at 2-2 on the season so far with a 4.35 ERA and 13 strikeouts. Junior Natalie Halvorson (1-2) follows with 12 strikeouts and a 7.11 ERA after six appearances. Sophomore transfer Erin Hocker and freshman Tori Meyer have both earned a save.

HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG
Links to stay updated game-by-game can be found on the DePaul Softball Schedule page. Every game will be broadcast on ESPN3. Any updates or changes will be posted as soon as possible. Live updates can also be found on Twitter @depaulsb.

LAST TIME OUT
The Blue Demons posted a 2-3 record at the 2020 Pirate Clash hosted by East Carolina. DePaul earned both of its wins over ECU, 4-2 on Friday and 13-2 on Saturday.

SCOUTING GEORGIA TECH (3-5, 0-0 ACC | Picked 6th in ACC)

Finished last season 31-27 overall and 11-13 in conference play. They dropped the ACC Quarterfinal to Florida State 7-0.
Picked to finish sixth in league play, one spot up from last season.
Georgia Tech kicked off the 2020 season by hosting the Big Ten/ACC Challenge last weekend and posted a 2-2 record against Nebraska and Iowa.
Current freshman Emma Kauf is tied for fourth in the ACC with three home runs and third with five stolen bases. She also leads the team with a .370 batting average, a .778 slugging percentage, home runs and stolen bases (5).

LAST TIME AGAINST THE YELLOW JACKETS

The series is tied, 4-4.
DePaul last faced off against Georgia Tech in the Georgia Tech Round Robin in Atlanta, Ga. in 2018 losing the first game of a double header, 2-1 in 10 innings before grinding out an 8-2 commanding win in the second game.

SCOUTING SAMFORD (5-5, 0-0 SoCon | Picked 5th in SoCon)

Finished last season 31-27 overall and 11-13 in conference play. They dropped the ACC Quarterfinal to Florida State 7-0.
Voted to finish fifth in the leage with three players earning a spot on the Preseason Second Team All-SoCon.
Sit 5-5 on the season so far, posting a 3-2 record in their opening tournament and a 2-2 record in the LSU Tournament.
Most recently dropped a midweek game 8-0 to Georgia.
O'Neil Roberson leads with a .774 slugging percentage, .419 batting average, three home runs adn 12 RBIs.
Junior pitcher Emily Barnett (1-0) has posted a 0.70 ERA through ten innings in two starts and three appearances, striking out seven.
Freshman pitcher Abbey Swaney leads the pitching staff with a 2-0 record, holds a 2.95 ERA after throwing in 21.1 innings, recording 17 strikeouts in three starts and four appearances.

LAST TIME AGAINST THE BULLDOGS

The all-time series is tied, 3-3.
Last season, DePaul and Samford split the series with the Bulldogs taking game one, 6-0, and the Blue Demons winning the second, 5-2.

SCOUTING NO. 13/11 KENTUCKY (8-2, 0-0 SEC | Picked 4th in SEC)

Posted a final record of 36-24 overall and a 14-10 record in the SEC.
Picked to finish fourth in the SEC behind Alabama, Tennessee and LSU.
Senior second baseman Alex Martens was named Preseason All-SEC.
Welcomed seven newcomers after losing five letterwinners including three starters.
Took down Middle Tennesse 9-0 in six innings in their midweek matchup.
Has faced off against No. 7 Minnesota and No. 23/22 Arizona State. The Wildcats defeated Minnesota in the NFCA Lead-Off Classic, 7-0, and fell to ASU 2-3 and 5-7.

LAST TIME AGAINST THE WILDCATS

Kentucky holds a 4-3 advantage over DePaul.
The last matchup was in the 2017 NCAA Regionals where the Wildcats took the opening game 6-0.

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Players Mentioned

Erin Andris

Krista Dalgarn

Natalie Halvorson

Erin Hocker

Tori Meyer

Gabby O'Riley

DePaul University Athletics