DePaul Softball Launches into 2020 Season

CHICAGO – DePaul softball looks to kick off the season on Friday as part of the UNI-Dome Classic hosted by the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

The squad enters their second year under the helm of former DePaul All-American pitcher Tracie Adix-Zins, Associate Head Coach Joe Yegge and Assistant Coach Amanda Buchholz.

Following last season's run in the NCAA Regionals and an overall record of 35-16, the Blue Demons are excited to get this season started. DePaul returns 14, including BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Maranda Gutierrez as well as the 2019 RBI leader Jessica Cothern, while welcoming five newcomers.

"I'm very excited about the upcoming start to the season," Adix-Zins said. "The team has been working very hard in all aspects and we're ready to get out there and put it all into action.

"I think this weekend is going to be a great start to our season and will test us early with some good Midwest talent. We're just ready to get going."

The UNI-Dome Classic features five teams, including DePaul. The Blue Demons will face off against South Dakota State, South Dakota, Drake and Nothern Iowa all in three-days tournament time.

DePaul will kick the weekend off against their lone opponent of the day South Dakota State first thing in the morning at 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 7.

Saturday, Feb. 8 features the first two-game day of the tournament with the Blue Demons lined up to take on the University of South Dakota at 10:15 a.m., with a little break before a 2:45 p.m. matchup against the Drake Bulldogs.

On the final day of the tournament, DePaul will face host-team UNI at 11:45 a.m. and another game against Drake at 2 p.m.

SCOUTING SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (37-19, 11-7 Summit League | RPI 140 | Picked 3rd in SL)

SDSU matched a season best 37 games won the last two seasons and earned two consecutive trips to regionals of the National Invitational Softball Championship.
The team returns their entire pitching staff consisting of six pitchers including 2019 All-Summit League First Team honoree Kendra Conard.
SDSU returns just one senior, Paige Gerdes, along with 17 underclassmen including eight newcomers. Gerdes has made 99 appearances for the Jackrabbits with nine doubles and two home runs.
Was tabbed to finish third in the Summit League. Received one first-place vote.

LAST TIME AGAINST THE JACKRABBITS

The 2020 matchup is the first meeting between the two teams.

SCOUTING SOUTH DAKOTA (33-28, 12-6 Summit League | RPI 108 | Picked 2nd in SL)

Finished second in the Summit League last year and was one game away from a trip to the NCAA Regionals.
The Coyotes return four key players, senior CF Camilee Fowler, junior SS Lauren Eamiguel, junior 3B Lauren Wobken and junior pitcher Alexis Devers.
Jamie Holscher led the team in batting with a .364 average, in home runs (10) and in RBI's with 48.
USD has eight newcomers to the field.
South Dakota was picked to finish second in the Summit League in front of South Dakota State.

LAST TIME AGAINST THE COYOTES

The matchup on Saturday is the first between the two teams in series history.

SCOUTING DRAKE (43-16, 14-7 MVC | RPI 24 | Picked 1st in MVC)

Six starters return for the Bulldogs, including senior Mandi Roemmich who led the team with a .380 batting average.
The Bulldogs lost Kennedy Frank who led the team in RBI's and Taryn Pena who led her squad with 8 home runs.
Nicole Newman returns for her sixth year after throwing 221.2 innings, earning a 29-7 record while posting a 1.07 ERA.
The reigning back-to-back MVC regular season and tournament champion Drake was tabbed to finish first in The Valley this season, earning four first place votes.
The Bulldogs are coming off two consecutive years qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.

LAST TIME AGAINST THE BULLDOGS

This is the first matchup between DePaul and Drake since a 3-1 victory in 2008. The Blue Demons hold a 7-2 advantage over the Bulldogs with a five-game winning streak.

SCOUTING NORTHERN IOWA (28-23, 13-10 MVC | RPI 89 | Picked 2nd in MVC)

UNI has three mainstay returners: Adara Opiola, Sammey Bunch and Jaclyn Spencer. All three have been named to the preseason All-MVC team.
Opiola made 37 starts as the third baseman for the Panthers and was named to the MVC-All Tournament Team.
Bunch was honored as the 2019 MVC Player of the Year, First Team All-MVC and was named to the MVC All-Tournament Team. She started in all 51 games at shortstop and led the team with a .395 batting average, 51 runs, 50 RBI's and 17 home runs.
Spencer started 17 games in the circle, pitching 104.2 innings recording 97 strikeouts and earned an 11-5 record.
Was predicted to finish second in the conference after receiving four first-place votes.

LAST TIME AGAINST THE PANTHERS

DePaul will face off against UNI for the first time since a six-inning 11-1 dub in 2018. The all-time series puts the Blue Demons out in front with a 7-2 record also on a five-game winning streak.

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Players Mentioned

Jessica Cothern

Maranda Gutierrez

DePaul University Athletics