Softball Visits Madison for Matchup with Wisconsin

CHICAGO – DePaul softball will step out of BIG EAST play on Tuesday afternoon when the Blue Demons make the trip to Madison and the Goodman Softball Diamond for a matchup with Wisconsin. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. with coverage carried on B1G+.

About DePaul
DePaul is looking to build off momentum from claiming the series finale over Creighton 6-4 on Sunday. The Blue Demons (12-20, 4-8 BIG EAST) used a four-run fourth inning to avoid the series sweep.

At the dish, Anna Wohlers and Brooke Johnson have been the one-two punch for DePaul in 2023 with the duo tallying 36 hits apiece. The sophomore catcher is batting .387 at the leadoff spot and leads the team with 29 RBIs on 21 extra-base this including nine homers. Johnson, the first baseman, owns a .383 average which has risen to .500 over the last 10 games has driven in 22 runs and leads DePaul with 10 walks drawn.

Shortstop Nicole Sullivan has driven in 14 runs in the cleanup spot while senior Tori Meyer is third on the team in hits with 24.

Right-hander Brenna Smith has led the pitching staff with 76 innings pitched across 20 appearances and four complete games. The Purdue transfer tallied a career-best six strikeouts in a one-run loss to Creighton last weekend. Bella Nigey, who was out last weekend due to injury, owns a staff-best 4.97 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 67.2 innings thrown.

Tracie Adix-Zins is in her fifth year at the helm of the DePaul program and picked up her 100th career win in DePaul's third win of the season, an 8-7 victory over Saint Louis on February 10.

About Wisconsin
The Badgers (20-10, 7-2 Big Ten) enter the midweek matchup on a four-game win streak having won six of their last seven. Last weekend, Wisconsin swept Purdue, outscoring the Boilermakers 19-1 in the three-game set.

Designated player Kayla Konwent has been a force behind the plate for the Badgers, leading the program in average (.373), hits (31), home runs (8) and RBIs (24). Brooke Kuffel has knocked in 16 runs on four homers while reaching base at a .421 clip.

In the circle, fifth-year Maddie Schwartz has appeared, in 22 games while owning a 2.00 ERA and 7-7 record. Schwartz threw a complete-game no-hitter against Purudue last weekend.

Yvette Healy, a two-time All-American and four-year letterwinner for the Blue Demons is in her 13th season leading the Badgers. Associate Head Coach Kristen Verdun donned the scarlet and blue from 2011-14 and ranks second in the program record books in wins in the circle (105) and strikeouts (954).

Series Stuff
Tuesday will see the two programs meet for just the seventh time with the Blue Demons holding a 4-2 edge in the all-time series. The last meeting came in 2015 where the Badgers took a 9-0 six-inning decision at the Alexis Park Resort Classic in Las Vegas.

Up Next: DePaul returns to Cacciatore Stadium, April 14-16, for a three-game series with Seton Hall. Friday's opener is set to get underway at 2 p.m. with coverage found on FloSoftball.

Softball Visits Madison for Matchup with Wisconsin

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Players Mentioned

Brooke Johnson

Tori Meyer

Bella Nigey

Brenna Smith

Nicole Sullivan

Anna Wohlers

DePaul University Athletics