DePaul Softball Opens 2023 Campaign in Rosemont

CHICAGO -- For the third-consecutive season, the DePaul softball team will open its spring campaign in Rosemont, Ill. at the DePaul Dome Tournament. The 10-team event spans four days, Feb. 9-12, with the Blue Demons set to face Valparaiso, Bowling Green, Saint Louis and Evansville to kick off the new season.

The Schedule
Thursday, February 9 | vs. Valparaiso | 3:30 p.m. | Live Stats
Friday, February 10 | vs. Bowling Green | 3:00 p.m. | Live Stats
Friday, February 10 | vs. Saint Louis | 5:30 p.m. | Live Stats
Saturday, February 11 | vs. Evansville | 5:00 p.m. | Live Stats
*all times Central

DePaul at a Glance
The Blue Demons, picked to win the BIG EAST in the coaches' preseason poll, will rely on a mix of youth and experience as Tracie Adix-Zins and Co. look to capture another league crown.

11 letterwinners return to Lincoln Park from a 2022 team that was 29-24 and 16-8 in conference play. Last season's squad advanced to the BIG EAST Tournament for the 16th-conseuctive time and took down top-seeded UConn on the first day, before bowing out on day two of the double-elimination event.

Brooke Johnson, a unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection and an NFCA All-Region honoree in 2022, is at the core of the experienced bunch as the biggest offensive threat in the lineup. Johnson, selected the 15th-best first baseman nationally by Extra Innings Softball in the preseason, led the Blue Demons in almost every statistical category a season ago including average (.389), hits (61) HR (13), RBIs (52) and on-base percentage (.510).

Senior outfielder Tori Meyer returns and is primed for another strong season after starting 52 of 53 games last season and landing second on the team in batting average (.339) and hits (56) while earning All-BIG EAST Second Team Honors. Fellow Second Team honoree Anna Wohlers will look to provide a spark after bursting on the scene with a .314 average, eight home runs and .403 on-base percentage as a freshman.

Junior Nicole Sullivan alongside sophomores Carly Alvers and Baylee Cosgrove will look to protect the middle infield after the departure of three-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Maranda Gutierrez and sixth-year second baseman Skylor Hilger.

Grace Frazier and Riley Pool will look for more expanded roles this season with Frazier in the outfield and Pool behind the plate. Frazier appeared in 38 contests last season with 66 at bats and 10 runs scored as a pinch runner. Pool saw most of her opportunities come as the designated player with 43 appearances, 14 hits and 11 RBIs.

Fresh faces are aplenty in the circle, as Adix-Zins' staff are all newcomers including Purdue-transfer Brenna Smith alongside junior college transfer out of College of Central Florida, Katey Pierce. Freshman Bella Nigey, a high school teammate of Wohlers and former Toledo commit signed with the Blue Demons in the spring, while Abbey Pochie, a Chicago native, rounds out the staff.

Adix-Zins is in her fifth season leading her alma mater and owns a 97-63 record to go along with a BIG EAST Tournament Title and Regular Season Title.

About Valparaiso
The Beacons turn a new page heading into the 2023 season as Meaggan Pettipiece takes the helm in Valparaiso. A season ago, the brown and gold were 14-33 overall and 5-22 in Missouri Valley play. Valpo returns 10 letterwinners from 2022 whom account for 40 percent of plate appearances and 64 percent of innings pitched. Six newcomers joined the fold in the fall including Kent State transfer Autumn Acord. Senior catcher Lauren Kehlenbrick will carry the offensive load for the Beacons after hitting .314 with 30 RBIs last season.

The Blue Demons hold a 45-1-1 advantage in the all-time series including an 8-0 five-inning victory in the 2022 season opener

About Bowling Green
In 2022, the Falcons amassed a 34-21 record and finished fourth finish in the Mid-American Conference. Candace Fenton-Bockbrader steps into the head coaching role after spending three years as an assistant and welcomes back 13 letterwinners from a year ago. Expect junior outfielder Greta L'Esperance, a 2022 All-MAC First Team selection, to play a big part in the offense. The Falcons return a trio of pitchers including Hannah Davies and Sydney Stepp with both making 11 appearances in the circle last spring.

DePaul is 3-0 against Bowling Green with the last two meetings coming in 2006.

About Saint Louis
The Billikens return 10 position players and three pitchers from a 2022 squad that went 22-29 and 13-10 in the Atlantic 10. Christy Connoyer, in her 13th season, welcomes back three all-conference selections including outfielder Gabbie Kowalik who started all 51 games last season and drove home 30 RBIs and collected 97 total bases. Graduate pitcher Chloe Wendling totaled 15 wins a season ago while owning a 3.01 ERA.

In the all-time series, the Blue Demons hold a 31-1 advantage and last took down the Billikens 8-5 in 2021 at the inaugural Dome Tournament in Rosemont.

About Evansville
The Purple Aces, a newcomer to the Dome Tournament this season, compiled a 24-27 record last season including a 9-18 mark in Missouri Valley action. Evansville returns all-MVC selections Hannah Hood and Zoe Frossard. In the circle, Sydney Weatherford is the most experienced hurler, posting a team-low 3.34 ERA in 119 innings of work as a freshman. Mat Mundell is in his ninth season leading the Aces.

The Blue Demons are 7-2 all time in meetings with Evansville with the last matchup taking place in 2019, a 9-1 DePaul victory.

Up Next
Following a weekend in Rosemont, the Blue Demons will travel west to Arizona for the Littlewood Classic in Tempe, Feb. 17-19 for matchups with Weber State, Grand Canyon, BYU, Portland State and the host Sun Devils.

DePaul Softball Opens 2023 Campaign in Rosemont

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Carly Alvers

Baylee Cosgrove

Grace Frazier

Maranda Gutierrez

Skylor Hilger

Brooke Johnson

Tori Meyer

Bella Nigey

Katey Pierce

Abbey Pochie

Riley Pool

Brenna Smith

Nicole Sullivan

Anna Wohlers