Thursday, February 9
Rosemont, Ill.
3:30 P.M. CT
DePaul University
1-0
7
vs
1
Valparaiso
0-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Valparaiso
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
5
1
DePaul
3
1
0
0
0
3
X
7
7
0
DePaul Claims 7-1 Season-Opening Win Over Valpo
2/9/2023 7:12:00 PM | SOFTBALL
Blue Demons improve to 46-1-1 all-time against the brown and gold
ROSEMONT, Ill. – A pair of three-run innings lifted DePaul past Valpo 7-1 on Thursday afternoon as the Blue Demons picked up their first win of the 2023 season at the Dome at the Parkway Sports Complex in Rosemont. Brooke Johnson ignited the offense with a three-run homer in the first inning while a sacrifice fly and two-run single in the sixth inning capped off the victory.
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Johnson picked up right where she left off a season ago, with a three-run home run in her first at bat, to mark the 21st homer of her career.
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Sophomore outfielder Addison Talbot drove home a pair of runs, the first of her career, on a 1-for-2 outing. Tori Meyer posted two RBI on two base hits while scoring a run herself. Grace Frazier was 2-for-2 on the day including a double to go along with two runs.
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In the circle, freshman Bella Nigey threw a complete game and picked up the win in the first start of her career. The Bettendorf, Iowa native struck out six Beacon batters while surrendering five hits, an earned run and a walk.Â
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With the win, the Blue Demons improve to 46-1-1 all time against Valparaiso and 4-1 in season-openers under Tracie Adix-Zins.
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How it Happened
The bottom of the first saw Meyer jump aboard on a leadoff base hit while Baylee Cosgrove reached on a hit by pitch to set the table for Johnson. The senior first baseman lifted the second pitch of her at bat to right center and put the Blue Demons up early, 3-0.
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Frazier and Carly Alvers tallied back-to-back base hits to bring up Talbot who singled down the left field line to bring Frazier across and widen DePaul's lead by a run.
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Valparaiso (0-1) strung together a two-out rally in the top of the sixth behind a trio of base hits to plate a run and get on the board.
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The Blue Demons saw three more cross in the bottom half of the inning as a Talbot sac fly followed by a Meyer two-base single plated the base runners and put the game out of reach, 7-1.
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Up Next
DePaul will continue play at the DePaul Dome Tournament on Friday, Feb. 10. when the Blue Demons face Bowling Green at 3 p.m. before meeting Saint Louis at 5:30 p.m.
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Johnson picked up right where she left off a season ago, with a three-run home run in her first at bat, to mark the 21st homer of her career.
Â
Sophomore outfielder Addison Talbot drove home a pair of runs, the first of her career, on a 1-for-2 outing. Tori Meyer posted two RBI on two base hits while scoring a run herself. Grace Frazier was 2-for-2 on the day including a double to go along with two runs.
Â
In the circle, freshman Bella Nigey threw a complete game and picked up the win in the first start of her career. The Bettendorf, Iowa native struck out six Beacon batters while surrendering five hits, an earned run and a walk.Â
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With the win, the Blue Demons improve to 46-1-1 all time against Valparaiso and 4-1 in season-openers under Tracie Adix-Zins.
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How it Happened
The bottom of the first saw Meyer jump aboard on a leadoff base hit while Baylee Cosgrove reached on a hit by pitch to set the table for Johnson. The senior first baseman lifted the second pitch of her at bat to right center and put the Blue Demons up early, 3-0.
Â
Frazier and Carly Alvers tallied back-to-back base hits to bring up Talbot who singled down the left field line to bring Frazier across and widen DePaul's lead by a run.
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Valparaiso (0-1) strung together a two-out rally in the top of the sixth behind a trio of base hits to plate a run and get on the board.
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The Blue Demons saw three more cross in the bottom half of the inning as a Talbot sac fly followed by a Meyer two-base single plated the base runners and put the game out of reach, 7-1.
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Up Next
DePaul will continue play at the DePaul Dome Tournament on Friday, Feb. 10. when the Blue Demons face Bowling Green at 3 p.m. before meeting Saint Louis at 5:30 p.m.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Nigey, Bella (1-0)
L: Seib, Easton (0-1)
Batting:
RBI: Herschbach, Taylor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hecker, Regi 1
Batting:
2B: Frazier, Grace 1
HR: Johnson, Brooke 1
RBI: Meyer, Tori 2 ; Johnson, Brooke 3 ; Talbot, Addison 2
SF: Talbot, Addison 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Meyer, Tori 1 ; Cosgrove, Baylee 1 ; Johnson, Brooke 1 ; Jacobs, Gracie 1 ; Frazier, Grace 2 ; Alvers, Carly 1
HBP: Cosgrove, Baylee 1 ; Sullivan, Nicole 1 ; Alvers, Carly 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SOFTBALL
INF
/ SOFTBALLOF
/ SOFTBALL1B
/ SOFTBALLOF/DP
/ SOFTBALL
RHP
/ SOFTBALL
Util.
/ SOFTBALLBlue Demon Room Podcast Episode 14: Bella Nigey & Baylee Cosgrove
Wednesday, February 05
Episode 13: Allie Quigley & Lindsay Chouinard Platt, 2024 Hall of Famers
Thursday, January 16
Nicole Sullivan Mic'd Up
Monday, August 07
Softball BIG EAST Championship Game One Highlights
Thursday, May 12