DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Sweep BIG EAST Weekly Awards After 6-0 Start
2/9/2026 2:00:00 PM | SOFTBALL
Jolie Adams, Hannah Messer and Addy Poe claim season's first weekly honors
CHICAGO – After posting its best start to a season since 2019, DePaul softball swept the season's first BIG EAST Weekly Awards, the league announced Monday afternoon. Sophomore outfielder Jolie Adams earned Player of the Week honors, sophomore right-hander Hannah Messer was named Pitcher of the Week, and freshman outfielder Addy Poe completed the sweep with Freshman of the Week recognition.
Setting the tone at the plate throughout the opening weekend, Adams led the Blue Demons with a .556 batting average, going 10-for-18. Four of her hits went for extra bases, including two doubles and two triples, with three of those coming on the final day of play as DePaul surged to its best team start since 2016. She drove in six runs, scored seven times, collected 16 total bases and finished the weekend with a .889 slugging percentage, becoming DePaul's first Player of the Week honoree since February 2024.
A dominant presence in the circle anchored DePaul's pitching staff, as Messer went 3-0 across four appearances while also recording a save. The sophomore logged 17.1 innings, allowing just one earned run and striking out 17 batters while holding opponents to a .177 batting average. Messer posted a career-high eight strikeouts against Detroit Mercy and added a milestone moment at the plate, launching the first home run of her career in DePaul's 14-1, run-rule victory over Oakland. She owns a BIG EAST-best 0.40 ERA after opening weekend, marking DePaul's first Pitcher of the Week selection since April 2022.
Making an immediate impact in her collegiate debut, Poe emerged as a key contributor as the lone freshman starter in the lineup. The outfielder hit .421 on the weekend, driving in eight runs on eight hits, highlighted by an inside-the-park home run against Detroit Mercy on Feb. 7. Poe totaled 11 bases, went 8-for-19 at the plate with just one strikeout, drew two walks and was perfect in two stolen base attempts. Her weekend performance earned DePaul its first Freshman of the Week honor since April 2022, while she also turned in a flawless defensive showing with five putouts on five chances.
The Blue Demons turn their attention to a trip to Tampa, Fla., Feb. 13–15 for the Fonseca Memorial Tournament hosted by South Florida. DePaul will play five games over three days, taking on Boston College, Indiana State, Kansas, Yale and the host Bulls.
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