Saturday, May 1
Indianapolis, Ind.
11:00 A.M. CT
DePaul University
at
Butler
After Extended Layoff, DePaul Softball Travels to Butler
4/30/2021 2:56:00 PM | SOFTBALL
Blue Demons and Bulldogs meet for BIG EAST regular season finale
CHICAGO – The DePaul softball team returns to action this weekend after 13 days without a game due to numerous postponements and cancelations. The Blue Demons will close out their 2021 BIG EAST slate with a weekend trip to Butler.
DePaul (19-9, 10-1 BIG EAST) and Butler (16-16-1, 6-8-1 BIG EAST) will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday, May 1 at 11 a.m. CT followed by a single contest on Sunday with first pitch also set for 11 a.m. at Butler Softball field. All three matchups will be streamed via the Butler Athletics YouTube channel with live stats also available.
The Blue Demons return to the field for the first time since April 18 after a weekend series with Seton Hall scheduled for April 24-25 was postponed due to COVID-19 issues within the Pirates' program and weather canceled a midweek matchup with Notre Dame on April 28.
Last time out, DePaul saw an offensive outburst in a 10-2 victory over Creighton in five innings to claim its third BIG EAST series sweep of the season. The Bluejays struck first in the top of the first inning but the Blue Demons responded with two runs in the third and eight in the fourth to clinch the victory. Maranda Gutierrez blasted a two-run homer and Nicole Sullivan put up the exclamation mark with a grand slam. Natalie Halvorson picked up her seventh win of the season in the circle.
The Blue Demons boast a balanced offensive attack through 11 BIG EAST games, with five different batters with 10 or more hits and three with 10 or more RBI. Jessica Cothern leads the way with a .464 batting average in league games to go along with 13 hits and nine walks. Sullivan has risen to become quite the threat behind the plate with a .455 average, 11 RBI and a team-high .864 slugging. Kate Polucha is batting .343 and has blasted three home runs. Natalie Halvorson and Krista Dalgarn lead the one-two punch in the circle for DePaul combining for a 9-1 record and 51 strikeouts. Halvorson holds a 2.16 ERA in conference play while Dalgarn sits at 2.72.
Butler enters the weekend 7-2-1 in their last 10 contests. The Bulldogs have relied on a deep pitching staff with Mackenzie Griman, Alyssa Graves and Karli Ricketts combining for a 2.41 ERA and 220 strikeouts on the season. Lauren Fey leads the Butler offense with a BIG EAST-best .525 on-base percentage. Fey has recorded 43 hits and is batting .426. The Bulldogs have won their last six games at the Butler Softball Field. Last time out, Butler and Providence ended in a 4-4 tie on Sunday, April 25 after nine innings of competition. The game ended due to travel constraints and was recorded officially as a tie. The Bulldogs and Friars split the Saturday doubleheader.
DePaul leads the all-time series with the Bulldogs 15-6, but last time the two squads met Butler took home a decisive 8-1 victory at Butler Softball Field to prevent a DePaul series sweep. The Bulldogs put up 14 hits on the afternoon while the Blue Demons mustered just three as Alysaa Graves threw a complete game and allowed just one earned run in 29 batters faced. Lauren Fey had three hits and two RBI. Gabby O'Riley and Jessica Cothern tallied base knocks for DePaul.
Following their conference finale, the Blue Demons will return home for their last weekend of the regular season with a trio of non-conference matchups. DePaul will welcome UIC and Western Illinois to Cacciatore Stadium May 7-8. The Blue Demons will meet the Flames at 2:30 p.m. on Friday before a rematch on Saturday set for 10:30 a.m. Western Illinois and DePaul will face off at 1 p.m.
DePaul has already clinched a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament scheduled for May 13-15 in Storrs, Conn. The Blue Demons have won three consecutive conference tournament titles.
DePaul (19-9, 10-1 BIG EAST) and Butler (16-16-1, 6-8-1 BIG EAST) will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday, May 1 at 11 a.m. CT followed by a single contest on Sunday with first pitch also set for 11 a.m. at Butler Softball field. All three matchups will be streamed via the Butler Athletics YouTube channel with live stats also available.
The Blue Demons return to the field for the first time since April 18 after a weekend series with Seton Hall scheduled for April 24-25 was postponed due to COVID-19 issues within the Pirates' program and weather canceled a midweek matchup with Notre Dame on April 28.
Last time out, DePaul saw an offensive outburst in a 10-2 victory over Creighton in five innings to claim its third BIG EAST series sweep of the season. The Bluejays struck first in the top of the first inning but the Blue Demons responded with two runs in the third and eight in the fourth to clinch the victory. Maranda Gutierrez blasted a two-run homer and Nicole Sullivan put up the exclamation mark with a grand slam. Natalie Halvorson picked up her seventh win of the season in the circle.
The Blue Demons boast a balanced offensive attack through 11 BIG EAST games, with five different batters with 10 or more hits and three with 10 or more RBI. Jessica Cothern leads the way with a .464 batting average in league games to go along with 13 hits and nine walks. Sullivan has risen to become quite the threat behind the plate with a .455 average, 11 RBI and a team-high .864 slugging. Kate Polucha is batting .343 and has blasted three home runs. Natalie Halvorson and Krista Dalgarn lead the one-two punch in the circle for DePaul combining for a 9-1 record and 51 strikeouts. Halvorson holds a 2.16 ERA in conference play while Dalgarn sits at 2.72.
Butler enters the weekend 7-2-1 in their last 10 contests. The Bulldogs have relied on a deep pitching staff with Mackenzie Griman, Alyssa Graves and Karli Ricketts combining for a 2.41 ERA and 220 strikeouts on the season. Lauren Fey leads the Butler offense with a BIG EAST-best .525 on-base percentage. Fey has recorded 43 hits and is batting .426. The Bulldogs have won their last six games at the Butler Softball Field. Last time out, Butler and Providence ended in a 4-4 tie on Sunday, April 25 after nine innings of competition. The game ended due to travel constraints and was recorded officially as a tie. The Bulldogs and Friars split the Saturday doubleheader.
DePaul leads the all-time series with the Bulldogs 15-6, but last time the two squads met Butler took home a decisive 8-1 victory at Butler Softball Field to prevent a DePaul series sweep. The Bulldogs put up 14 hits on the afternoon while the Blue Demons mustered just three as Alysaa Graves threw a complete game and allowed just one earned run in 29 batters faced. Lauren Fey had three hits and two RBI. Gabby O'Riley and Jessica Cothern tallied base knocks for DePaul.
Following their conference finale, the Blue Demons will return home for their last weekend of the regular season with a trio of non-conference matchups. DePaul will welcome UIC and Western Illinois to Cacciatore Stadium May 7-8. The Blue Demons will meet the Flames at 2:30 p.m. on Friday before a rematch on Saturday set for 10:30 a.m. Western Illinois and DePaul will face off at 1 p.m.
DePaul has already clinched a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament scheduled for May 13-15 in Storrs, Conn. The Blue Demons have won three consecutive conference tournament titles.
Players Mentioned
C/3B
/ SOFTBALL
P/1B
/ SOFTBALL
INF
/ SOFTBALL
P
/ SOFTBALL
C/ 3B
/ SOFTBALL
OF
/ SOFTBALL
P/SS
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