Johnson’s Walk-Off Home Run Leads DePaul Past Northern Illinois

Wednesday, April 7

Chicago, Ill.

2:30 P.M. CT

DePaul University

15-7

Northern Illinois

8-19

Northern Illinois

DePaul

Johnson’s Walk-Off Home Run Leads DePaul Past Northern Illinois

4/7/2021 7:22:00 PM | SOFTBALL

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Blue Demons put up five runs in the bottom of the seventh to win eighth game in a row

CHICAGO – Brooke Johnson blasted a walk-off three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to power DePaul past Northern Illinois, 6-5, at Cacciatore Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

The Blue Demons (15-7, 6-0 BIG EAST) extended their win streak to eight games with the victory and have won 18 straight in the series with Northern Illinois.

DePaul jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the third inning behind a double steal with Angela Scalzitti sliding to second and Skylor Hilger running home on the throw.

The top of the fourth saw the Huskies tie the score at one apiece after a bases load walk.

Northern Illinois put up a three-run fifth on a hit, DePaul error and two-run homer to take a 4-1 lead.

Pearl Barroso knocked in the first DePaul hit of the afternoon in the fifth inning but could not reach home.

The Huskies homered once more in the sixth inning to widen the advantage to 5-1.

The Blue Demons did not back down and rallied to score five in the bottom of the seventh to claim the victory.

Barroso tapped in her second hit of the day in the leadoff spot to get things started for DePaul. Freshman Riley Pool stepped to the plate and drew a walk to put runners on first and second. At the top of the order, Angela Scalzitti knocked in an RBI single to left to score pinch runner, Zoie Rettig before Kate Polucha drew a walk to load the bases. Jessica Cothern flied out to right field and scored Hilger to pull the Blue Demons within two before Johnson drilled a three-run homer to center field to put DePaul in the win column.

Krista Dalgarn earned the win in relief to improve to 9-1 on the season.

DePaul travels to Villanova, April 10-11 for a BIG EAST weekend series. The Wildcats were voted preseason favorite in the league's coaches' poll while DePaul was selected second and received the remaining first place votes. Saturday will feature a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. CT while Sunday's single game is set to begin at 1:30 p.m. from the Villanova Softball complex.