Blue Demons Go 2-0 on Opening Day

Friday, February 6

Rosemont, Ill.

2:30 p.m.

DePaul University

1-0

Detroit Mercy

1-1

Detroit Mercy

DePaul

Lydia Ettema and Kali Blount celebrate a HR

2/6/2026 9:02:00 PM | SOFTBALL

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Detroit Mercy Box Score (PDF)Green Bay Box Score (PDF)

DePaul defeats Detroit Mercy and Green Bay in Rosemont

ROSEMONT, Ill. – DePaul softball opened the 2026 season with a pair of decisive victories at the DePaul Dome Tournament on Friday afternoon. The Blue Demons defeated Detroit Mercy, 8-2, in the opener before completing the day with a 7-3 win over Green Bay.

It was a true team effort for DePaul, with contributions throughout the lineup as five Blue Demons recorded multiple hits on the day. Sophomore first baseman Chelsea Parker went 4-for-6 at the plate, highlighted by a three-run home run, while driving in four runs and collecting eight total bases. Jolie Adams added four hits in six at-bats and an RBI in her DePaul debut, while Lydia Ettema totaled four RBI on the day, including an inside-the-park home run against Green Bay.

DePaul was aggressive on the base paths, going 10-for-11 in stolen base attempts. Senior second baseman Lexi Houge finished 3-for-3, while freshman right fielder Addy Poe added two stolen bases in two attempts. Houge, Poe and Adams combined to score 10 of DePaul's 15 runs. Defensively, the Blue Demons caught three runners stealing on three attempts.

In the circle, Kelly Greene earned the game-one victory, tossing 4.2 innings while striking out four and allowing two runs on five hits. Senior right-hander Bella Nigey picked up the save with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief, allowing no hits and striking out four. In game two, sophomore right-hander Hannah Messer went 6.2 innings and tallied a career-best eight strikeouts while holding Green Bay scoreless on just four hits.

Seven players made their DePaul debuts on opening day, including five freshmen, Addy Poe, Kailie Westphal, Katie Borges, Camryn Eckhart and Emersyn Coulter, who saw their first collegiate action.

Game 1 – DePaul 8, Detroit Mercy 2
After Detroit Mercy's leadoff batter reached on an error, Kelly Greene settled in and induced a pair of flyouts and a strikeout to strand two runners in the opening inning. In DePaul's first offensive sequence of the season, Chelsea Parker ripped a two-out double to left-center before back-to-back walks loaded the bases. The Titans escaped the jam with a strikeout to keep the game scoreless.

Detroit Mercy threatened again in the second, placing a runner in scoring position, but DePaul's defense stood tall by catching the runner stealing home to end the inning.

The Blue Demons broke through in the third. Houge led off with a walk and stole second before Adams singled to set the stage for Parker, who launched a three-run home run to right field, the third of her career. DePaul added another run on a Titans error, allowing Poe to score and extend the lead to 4-0.
Detroit Mercy plated two runs in the fifth following a pair of walks and a single before Greene gave way to Nigey, who recorded the final out of the inning.

DePaul answered in the home half of the frame. A leadoff single from Poe and a walk from Kali Blount set the table before Lydia Ettema, pinch-hitting in the eight spot, lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Blount. Cwick added insurance in the sixth, driving in Houge to make it 8-2.

Nigey worked around two walks in the seventh and closed out the win with her fourth strikeout of the day followed by a lineout, securing DePaul's first victory of the season.

Game 2 – DePaul 7, Green Bay 3
After falling behind early, DePaul responded with two runs in the bottom of the first. Adams reached on a single before Ettema delivered an inside-the-park home run to left-center to bring DePaul within a run.

Hannah Messer found her rhythm in the third, striking out the side to set the tone for the Blue Demons.

DePaul seized control with a four-run third inning. Houge and Adams opened the frame with back-to-back singles before Parker reached on a fielder's choice and moved into scoring position on a stolen base. Ettema drove in Houge with a single to left, and after both runners advanced on a wild pitch, Poe brought home Ettema to make it 5-3. Westphal recorded the first hit of her collegiate career to score Poe and push the lead to 6-3.

Parker added her fourth RBI of the day in the fourth inning, singling up the middle to score Adams and provide the final margin.

Messer and the DePaul defense held Green Bay in check the rest of the way, closing out an unbeaten opening day.

Up Next
The Blue Demons return to Rosemont Saturday, Feb. 7 to take on Detroit Mercy and Oakland on day two of the DePaul Dome Tournament. First pitch versus the Titans is set for 3 p.m. with the second game following immediately after.

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