Blue Demons Head to Carbondale for Coach B Classic

CHICAGO – DePaul softball will hit the road once again with a trip downstate to Southern Illinois on deck, Feb. 24-26. The Blue Demons will meet Southern Illinois Edwardsville, Northern Kentucky and the host Salukis in the four-game, three-day event at Charlotte West Stadium in Carbondale.

The Schedule
Friday, February 24 | vs. SIUE | 4 p.m. | Live Stats
Saturday, February 25 | vs. SIU | 12:45 p.m. | Live Stats
Saturday, February 25 | at Southern Illinois | 5:15 p.m. | Live Stats
Sunday, February 26 | vs. Northern Kentucky | 12:45 p.m. | Live Stats

About DePaul
DePaul (4-5) will look to snap a five-game skid after going winless at the Littlewood Classic last weekend in Arizona. The Blue Demons were heavy on the long ball during their trip out west, tallying eight home runs in five games with Brooke Johnson and Anna Wohlers notching three apiece and Nicole Sullivan with two as the trio accounted for 13 of DePaul's 15 RBIs on the weekend.

For the season, Johnson is joined by Grace Frazier and Addison Talbot as Blue Demons batting over .300. Johnson's eight RBIs through nine games ranks second in the BIG EAST while her four homers are tied for first. Meyer and Wohlers have followed up with 6 RBIs apiece on a combined seven extra-base hits.

In the circle, Brenna Smith owns a staff-best 4.48 ERA with 20.2 innings of work while freshman Bella Nigey has earned aa team-best 13 strikeouts in five appearances.

About SIUE
The Cougars enter the weekend 1-7 on the season after stints at the Trojan Classic and Southern Mississippi Golden Eagle Invite to begin the 2023 campaign. SIUE is led by 2022 All-OVC selection, Lexi King, and her six hits through the first eight games of the season. Junior pitcher Sydney Baalman leads the Cougars with a 2.50 ERA in 14.0 innings of work this season. SIUE, under first-year head coach Ben Sorden, was selected to finish sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference.

This weekend's matchups mark the first between the two programs in the Division I era.

About SIU
The host Salukis are 6-2 on the season and are coming off a 2-2 finish at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge last weekend. Aubrey DePron is leading the charge at the dish on an eight-game hitting streak with a .636 average with 14 hits to just two RBIs. All-MVC preseason selection Rylie Hamilton has totaled 10 RBIs, 17 total bases and a pair of homers in the early going of the 2023 season. In the circle, Madi Eberle has posted a .91 ERA, allowing just three earned runs in eight appearances and 23.0 innings of work. 2023 marks the first season for head coach Jen Sewell at the helm.

DePaul has dropped the previous two meetings to the Salukis but hold a 5-4 advantage in the all-time series.

About Northern Kentucky
The Norse are 2-3 after opening the season at the Texas A&M Invitational, picking up wins over Michigan State and Texas A&M Commerce. NKU boasts a pair of batters, Ella Lemonier and Trinity Robertson, batting over .500 through the first five games. In the Horizon League preseason poll the Norse were selected to finish sixth after posting a 27-29 record last year. Kathryn Gleason is in her eighth season at NKU.

Sunday's meeting will be the first between the two programs.

Up Next
Following the weekend in Carbondale, DePaul will travel east for the first time this season for the Palmer Park Clash in Charlottesville, Va. The Blue Demons will face off against Saint Francis, Fairfield and Virginia March 3-5.

Blue Demons Head to Carbondale for Coach B Classic

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Grace Frazier

Brooke Johnson

Bella Nigey

Brenna Smith

Nicole Sullivan

Addison Talbot

Anna Wohlers

DePaul University Athletics