
Blue Demons Fend Off Elimination, Advance to Thursday at the BIG EAST Tournament
5/10/2023 10:10:00 PM | SOFTBALL
DePaul takes down Butler 4-2 in elimination game
STORRS, Conn. – After falling to Seton Hall in heartbreaking fashion in Game 1 of the 2023 BIG EAST Tournament, the Blue Demons showed tremendous resilience in an elimination game, taking down Butler 4-2 to see another day.
Leading 4-0 looking for four more outs, DePaul saw the Pirates score five unanswered to win in walk-off fashion and send the Blue Demons to the bottom side of the bracket. Facing elimination, DePaul bounced back to knock out No. 4 Butler with timely at bats and stout base running and defense.
Baylee Cosgrove put together an outstanding outing in Game 1, going 4-for-4 and driving in three of DePaul's runs. Anna Wohlers went 2-for-2 to go along with two walks and an RBI.
Six different Blue Demons accounted for the squad's six hits in Game 2, with Nicole Sullivan scoring an unearned run, Tori Meyer driving in a run and Riley Pool pushing across the eventual go-ahead runs in the sixth inning.
Right-hander Bella Nigey started Game 1, allowing just one hit through five innings and eventually giving up four runs on five total hits. Freshman Abbey Pochie came on relief, securing two outs in the seventh inning but eventually surrendering the game-winning run.
Senior Brenna Smith went the distance in the Game 2 victory, allowing 13 total hits but holding the Bulldogs to just a pair of runs with both coming in the final two innings. Smith recorded three strikeouts and stranded 13 Bulldog base runners.
How it Happened
Game 1 – Seton Hall 5, DePaul 4
The Blue Demons put the pressure on early with Cosgrove and Wohlers roping base hits up the middle and advancing on a passed ball, but we're left stranded in the first at bat.
DePaul once again threatened in the third inning, loading the bases on a Sullivan double, Cosgrove base hit and Wohlers four-pitch walk but the runners were left aboard once again. The two squads we're scoreless through four innings.
The fifth saw the Blue Demons breakthrough as Talbot sent a leadoff base hit to center before Sullivan drew a walk and Cosgrove drove a run in with a single up the middle. Johnson's groundout moved Cosgrove into scoring position before Wohlers sent a knock to right field to push Sullivan home and put DePaul in front 2-0.
Cosgrove helped DePaul push their lead to a four on a bases-loaded two-RBI single in the sixth.
Seton Hall responded in the bottom half of the inning with a three-run home run to cut the Blue Demons lead to one.
Looking for some insurance in the seventh, Wohlers drew a one-out walk but that would be it for the Blue Demon bats.
A leadoff walk from the Pirates tied the score at four apiece which brought Pochie into the game in relief. Seton Hall went on to load the bases and take the game on a walk-off RBI-single handing them the 5-4 win.
Game 2 - DePaul 4, Butler 2
Butler threatened right off the bat, with a pair of base hits and a fielder's choice which put runners on the corners but a foul out to shallow left ended the inning to get out of the jam.
The Blue Demons scored in the bottom half of the first as Sullivan's leadoff walk worked all the way around to score on a passed ball.
The Bulldogs sprayed a few more hits through the next few innings, but defense held them at bay heading into the fifth inning.
Meyer pushed DePaul in front by a pair of runs with an RBI-single to right field to bring Wohlers' two-out double around and make the score 2-0 after four innings.
After loading the bases, Smith hurled her second strikeout of the inning in a big moment to keep the Bulldogs scoreless.
Butler hung their first run on a bases loaded sacrifice to center, but Smith and the Blue Demons induced the final punchout of the inning to leave two more runners on base.
Pool added insurance for the Blue Demons in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out, two-RBI double down the left field line to put DePaul in front 4-1 headed to the seventh inning.
The Bulldogs didn't go away easily, loading up the bases and pushing one across the on a two-out infield base hit. Smith notched her third strikeout of the game at the right time, ringing up the final batter to clinch the victory.
Up Next
After Thursday's first two games, the Blue Demons will take on the lowest remaining seed at 5 p.m. CT. from Burrill Family Field. Live coverage can be found on FloSoftball.
Leading 4-0 looking for four more outs, DePaul saw the Pirates score five unanswered to win in walk-off fashion and send the Blue Demons to the bottom side of the bracket. Facing elimination, DePaul bounced back to knock out No. 4 Butler with timely at bats and stout base running and defense.
Baylee Cosgrove put together an outstanding outing in Game 1, going 4-for-4 and driving in three of DePaul's runs. Anna Wohlers went 2-for-2 to go along with two walks and an RBI.
Six different Blue Demons accounted for the squad's six hits in Game 2, with Nicole Sullivan scoring an unearned run, Tori Meyer driving in a run and Riley Pool pushing across the eventual go-ahead runs in the sixth inning.
Right-hander Bella Nigey started Game 1, allowing just one hit through five innings and eventually giving up four runs on five total hits. Freshman Abbey Pochie came on relief, securing two outs in the seventh inning but eventually surrendering the game-winning run.
Senior Brenna Smith went the distance in the Game 2 victory, allowing 13 total hits but holding the Bulldogs to just a pair of runs with both coming in the final two innings. Smith recorded three strikeouts and stranded 13 Bulldog base runners.
How it Happened
Game 1 – Seton Hall 5, DePaul 4
The Blue Demons put the pressure on early with Cosgrove and Wohlers roping base hits up the middle and advancing on a passed ball, but we're left stranded in the first at bat.
DePaul once again threatened in the third inning, loading the bases on a Sullivan double, Cosgrove base hit and Wohlers four-pitch walk but the runners were left aboard once again. The two squads we're scoreless through four innings.
The fifth saw the Blue Demons breakthrough as Talbot sent a leadoff base hit to center before Sullivan drew a walk and Cosgrove drove a run in with a single up the middle. Johnson's groundout moved Cosgrove into scoring position before Wohlers sent a knock to right field to push Sullivan home and put DePaul in front 2-0.
Cosgrove helped DePaul push their lead to a four on a bases-loaded two-RBI single in the sixth.
Seton Hall responded in the bottom half of the inning with a three-run home run to cut the Blue Demons lead to one.
Looking for some insurance in the seventh, Wohlers drew a one-out walk but that would be it for the Blue Demon bats.
A leadoff walk from the Pirates tied the score at four apiece which brought Pochie into the game in relief. Seton Hall went on to load the bases and take the game on a walk-off RBI-single handing them the 5-4 win.
Game 2 - DePaul 4, Butler 2
Butler threatened right off the bat, with a pair of base hits and a fielder's choice which put runners on the corners but a foul out to shallow left ended the inning to get out of the jam.
The Blue Demons scored in the bottom half of the first as Sullivan's leadoff walk worked all the way around to score on a passed ball.
The Bulldogs sprayed a few more hits through the next few innings, but defense held them at bay heading into the fifth inning.
Meyer pushed DePaul in front by a pair of runs with an RBI-single to right field to bring Wohlers' two-out double around and make the score 2-0 after four innings.
After loading the bases, Smith hurled her second strikeout of the inning in a big moment to keep the Bulldogs scoreless.
Butler hung their first run on a bases loaded sacrifice to center, but Smith and the Blue Demons induced the final punchout of the inning to leave two more runners on base.
Pool added insurance for the Blue Demons in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out, two-RBI double down the left field line to put DePaul in front 4-1 headed to the seventh inning.
The Bulldogs didn't go away easily, loading up the bases and pushing one across the on a two-out infield base hit. Smith notched her third strikeout of the game at the right time, ringing up the final batter to clinch the victory.
Up Next
After Thursday's first two games, the Blue Demons will take on the lowest remaining seed at 5 p.m. CT. from Burrill Family Field. Live coverage can be found on FloSoftball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: SMITH, Shelby (14-6)
L: Pochie, Abbey (2-8)

Batting:
2B: Sullivan, Nicole 1
RBI: Cosgrove, Baylee 3 ; Wohlers, Anna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sullivan, Nicole 1 ; Alvers, Carly 1 ; Frazier, Grace 1 ; Talbot, Addison 1
HBP: Frazier, Grace 1

Batting:
HR: CARR, Kelsey 1 ; GILBERT, Olivia 1
RBI: CARR, Kelsey 4 ; GILBERT, Olivia 1
SH: COLONNETTA, Ashly 1
Base Running:
RUNS: HILL, Taylor 1 ; CARR, Kelsey 1 ; GILBERT, Olivia 1 ; ARRUDA, Miranda 1 ; PEREZ, Andrea 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
Players Mentioned
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