Blue Demons Come Back to Defeat Villanova in Series Finale

Sunday, March 8

Chicago, Ill.

12 p.m.

DePaul University

10-14, 0

Villanova

4-18, 0

Villanova

DePaul

Morgan Rogers and Lydia Ettema celebrate

Blue Demons Come Back to Defeat Villanova in Series Finale

3/8/2026 2:43:00 PM | SOFTBALL

Box Score

DePaul logs its first BIG EAST win of the season in 7–6 victory

CHICAGO – DePaul softball rallied from an early deficit Sunday to defeat Villanova and evade the weekend sweep, snapping a 14-game skid against the Wildcats.

Seven of nine Blue Demons in the starting lineup notched at least one hit in the afternoon matchup. Junior outfielder Morgan Rogers recorded her fifth straight multi-hit game, going 3-for-4 while extending her hitting and doubles streaks to seven games. Chelsea Parker and Hannah Messer each homered, Parker's sixth of the season and Messer's second.

Messer got the start in the circle, tossing 3.1 innings before Bella Nigey entered in relief. Nigey turned in a strong relief outing, striking out four over 2.2 innings. Kelly Greene closed the final frame to secure the win and record her first save of the season.

How It Happened
Villanova (4-19, 2-1 BIG EAST) got on the board first in the top of the second inning with a two-run home run to right center to take an early lead. A two-out RBI double plated one more to make it 3–0. Jolie Adams got the DePaul bats started in the bottom of the frame with a single. Emersyn Coulter reached on an error, and Messer was able to drive Adams home on a sacrifice fly to end the inning 3–1.

Alexis Houge walked to get DePaul on the basepaths in the third. Rogers followed with a double to put runners in scoring position. Parker knocked Houge in to score in an RBI groundout to cut the deficit to 3–2.

The Wildcats put up two runs in the top of the fourth to extend their lead to 5–2. Adams and Coulter led off the bottom of the frame with back-to-back knocks, but the Blue Demons were unable to bring them around to score.

Villanova added another run in the fifth on a solo shot to left center, their fifth home run of the weekend. The Wildcats looked to add more in a two-out rally and were able to load the bases, but Nigey worked herself out of the jam and held the score at 6–2.

DePaul (10-14, 1-2 BIG EAST) struck back in the bottom of the frame as Rogers got things going with a base hit. Parker delivered with a two-run home run to center to make it 6–4. Lydia Ettema followed with a single but was left stranded to end the inning.

The Blue Demons put up a rally in the sixth to claim the lead for good. Messer led off the inning with a solo home run to left field. Bibianna Rodriguez reached on an error and Houge singled to put the go-ahead run on base. Rogers roped a bases-clearing double to right-center to give DePaul a 7–6 edge and cap the comeback victory.

Up Next
DePaul will remain home at Cacciatore Stadium March 13–15 for a three-game series against Georgetown. Admission is free for all fans.

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