DePaul University
8-24, 0
Butler
16-20, 0
Softball Splits Saturday Doubleheader with Butler
4/6/2024 7:07:00 PM | SOFTBALL
Blue Demons play two in extra innings
CHICAGO - DePaul softball split a pair of games that both went to extra innings against Butler, Saturday afternoon. The Blue Demons took a 4-3 win in game one through nine innings, while Butler got a 7-6 win in nine innings in game two.
Katey Pierce earned the start in game one and went the distance for her second complete game of the season. Pierce (1-7) gave up three runs on eight hits while tallying two strikeouts and allowing only one walk.
DePaul (8-25, 3-9 BIG EAST) tallied 11 hits in the first game and 10 in the second game, which marks the fifth and sixth games of the season for the Blue Demons with double-figure hits.
Bella Nigey got the nod in game two, pitching 4.1 innings where she allowed five runs and four hits. Brenna Smith entered in relief, going 1.2 innings giving up one hit and notching one strikeout. Abbey Pochie closed out the game, throwing the final 3.0 innings and where she gave up two runs on a pair of hits.
Freshman Ava Paganis had a breakout day, going 4-for-9 on the day with five RBIs. Paganis crushed her first career home run to right center during game two, plating three runs.Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME 1 - DePaul 4, Butler 3 (9 innings)
Butler (17-20, 6-9 BIG EAST) took an early 1-0 lead off of a home run in the first inning before DePaul quickly responded in the bottom of the first. Brooke Cwick and Brooke Johnson recorded back-to-back singles before advancing to second and third. A RBI single from Pool plated Cwick and Johnson for the 2-1 lead. Carly Alvers knocked a single up the middle,moving Pool to third. Paganis added a single of her own to bring Pool home and extend the lead, 3-1.
The Bulldogs cut into the lead, 3-2, with a RBI single in the sixth before tying the game in the seventh on a sacrifice fly that forced extra innings.Â
Both sides recorded a single in the eighth inning, but neither were able to bring their runner home. Baylee Cosgrove got DePaul's bats going in the ninth with a leadoff single. Morgan Rogers then laid down a bunt single and a Butler miscue gave DePaul runners at second and third. Pochie was walked to load the bases, setting up an opportunity for pinch hitter Bibianna Rodriguez to hit her first career walk-off, scoring Cosgrove.
GAME 2 - Butler 7, DePaul 6
Butler struck first once again in the second game of the day with a home run and sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead after the second inning.Â
DePaul threatened in the third as Lydia Ettema drew a two-out walk followed by a single to right field from Cwick, but DePaul was unable to bring them home in the third.Â
Cwick drew a walk to begin the sixth before taking second base on a passed ball. An RBI single up the middle from Johnson plated Cwick, getting DePaul on the board, 5-1. Pool kept the line moving with an infield single followed by a fielder's choice that allowed Alvers to reach first. Paganis knocked a three run homer to dead center to make it a one run game, 5-4.
Butler quickly answered with a single and sacrifice bunt in the top of the seventh to remain up by two, 6-4.Â
DePaul drew back-to-back walks to open the bottom of the seventh, followed by another single from Pool.. After a runner was called out, Alvers moved both remaining base runners into scoring position on a ground out. Paganis once again came up clutch with a two-RBI single to right center, tying the game 6-6.Â
The Blue Demons threatened in the eighth but Butler scored the winning run in the ninth off of a string of singles and walks.Â
UP NEXT
DePaul hits the road for a non-conference matchup with Iowa State on Tuesday, April 9. First pitch from Ames is set for 4 p.m. CT with coverage on ESPN+.Â
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONSÂ
For all the latest information on DePaul Softball, visit DePaulBlueDemons.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Blue Demons on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.Â
2024 TICKET INFORMATION Â Â
Season ticket packages for the 2024 DePaul Softball season are available now. Single-game tickets and Group Ticket Offers are on sale now and start at $5. Fans can visit DePaulBlueDemons.com/Tickets for more information.  Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Pierce, Katey (1-7)
L: DYER, Rylyn (0-7)
Batting:
2B: WHITE, Ella 1
HR: WHITE, Ella 1
RBI: CONGER, Hailey 1 ; WHITE, Ella 1 ; CARTER, Sydney 1
SH: MOXLEY, Olivia 1
SF: CONGER, Hailey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WHITE, Ella 2 ; VANDE HEI, Leigh 1
SB: LEHNER, Cate 1
Batting:
RBI: Rodriguez, Bibianna 1 ; Pool, Riley 2 ; Paganis, Ava 1
SH: Rogers, Morgan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cwick, Brooke 1 ; Johnson, Brooke 1 ; Pool, Riley 1 ; Cosgrove, Baylee 1
