Blue Demons Split Final Day at Fonseca Memorial Tournament

Sunday, February 15

Tampa, Fla.

8 a.m.

DePaul University

7-3

Yale

1-4

Yale

DePaul

Blue Demons Split Final Day at Fonseca Memorial Tournament

2/15/2026 1:48:00 PM | SOFTBALL

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Yale Box Score (PDF)USF Box Score (PDF)

Chelsea Parker goes 6-for-6 with 4 RBI on the day

TAMPA, Fla. – DePaul softball closed out the Fonseca Memorial Tournament with a split on the final day in Tampa, battling back in both contests. The Blue Demons rallied for a 5-4 win over Yale in game one before erasing a deficit against host South Florida, ultimately falling 2-1 in eight innings.

Sophomore first baseman Chelsea Parker powered the Blue Demons at the plate, going a perfect 6-for-6 on the day with four RBI and a pair of home runs. Parker reached base eight times across the two games, drawing two intentional walks against South Florida.

Jolie Adams went 2-for-3 against Yale, while Addy Poe added a multi-hit effort with an RBI versus the Bulldogs. In two pinch-hit appearances, Addi Burdick finished a perfect 2-for-2.

In the circle, Bella Nigey earned her first win of the season, tossing four innings of relief against Yale. She allowed six hits and two earned runs while striking out a season-high five. Sophomore right-hander Hannah Messer went the distance in the extra-inning setback against South Florida, giving up eight hits and two runs, none earned, while facing 28 batters. Messer moved to 3-4 on the season with the decision.

How It Happened
Game 1 – DePaul 5, Yale 4
A DePaul error, stolen base and base hit allowed Yale to grab an early 1-0 lead in the opening frame. Looking to answer, the top of the order delivered for the Blue Demons as Adams and Parker each singled, but DePaul was unable to bring either runner home in the first.

Yale added to its advantage in the third with a double to center that scored a runner from second. This time, the Blue Demons responded with a four-hit, three-run inning. Addi Burdick sparked the rally with a pinch-hit leadoff single before Adams drew a walk. Parker drove in DePaul's first run with a double to left, and Addy Poe followed with a single through the left side to tie the game. With two outs, Emersyn Coulter delivered a clutch base hit to plate Parker and give DePaul a 3-2 edge.

The Bulldogs threatened in the fourth, putting two on with a pair of singles, but reliever Nigey entered and stranded both runners. The Blue Demons' top of the order went back to work in the home half, as Adams singled up the middle ahead of Parker's third home run of the day, a two-run shot that pushed DePaul in front, 5-2.

Yale pulled within one, 5-4, in the sixth on three hits, but Nigey closed the door. Working around two base hits in the seventh, she struck out the final two batters to secure the one-run victory for the Blue Demons.

Game 2 – South Florida 2, DePaul 1 (8 innings)
The Blue Demons worked out of early trouble as South Florida loaded the bases in the first inning, but Messer retired three consecutive batters to escape the jam. In the second, the Bulls used a leadoff walk, sacrifice bunt and single to put runners on the corners before DePaul turned in a defensive gem. After securing a flyout to left, Jolie Adams fired home to cut down the runner at the plate and keep the game scoreless.

DePaul threatened in the top of the third when Addi Burdick led off with a double to left and Parker was intentionally walked. The pair moved into scoring position on a passed ball, but the Blue Demons were unable to capitalize.

Kailie Westphal made the most of a pinch-hit opportunity in the fifth, lining a one-out double to right-center, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple. South Florida broke through in the home half, using a leadoff bunt and a DePaul fielding error to set the table before a sacrifice fly to center brought home the game's first run for a 1-0 lead.

Parker answered immediately in the sixth, launching a solo home run to right field, her second long ball of the day and fourth of the season, to even the score at 1-1.

Neither side broke through in the seventh. The Bulls recorded a two-out single in the bottom half, but Messer induced the final out to send the game to extras.

In the eighth, Parker was intentionally walked to lead off the inning and Lydia Ettema was hit by a pitch, but DePaul couldn't push across the go-ahead run. South Florida ended it in the bottom half, as a bunt single found its way through the infield and the runner from second raced home for the 2-1 walk-off victory.

Up Next
The Blue Demons will head south once again with a trip to Jacksonville, Ala. for the Jax State Tournament Feb. 20-22 featuring Gardner-Webb, Northwestern State and the host Gamecocks.

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