Blue Demons Defeat Illinois State in Tuesday Tilt

Tuesday, April 21

Chicago, Ill.

3 p.m.

DePaul University

18-25

Illinois State

25-16

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Illinois State	0	2	0	0	3	0	0	5	7	1
DePaul	0	1	3	2	0	0	X	6	7	1

Blue Demons Defeat Illinois State in Tuesday Tilt

4/21/2026 6:47:00 PM | SOFTBALL

Box Score

Parker powers offense with two home runs in victory

CHICAGO – DePaul softball began their final homestand of the season with a gritty 6-5 victory against Illinois State at Cacciatore Stadium to secure their sixth win in their last seven games.

Sophomore first baseman Chelsea Parker continued her strong sophomore campaign at the plate, putting up a 3-for-3 performance with two home runs and five RBIs on the afternoon. Parker now owns a team-best 13 home runs and 44 RBIs on the season. Junior Morgan Rogers notched two hits in the matchup as well, including her 13th double of the season. Emersyn Coulter and Brooke Cwick each recorded a hit of their own.

Sophomore Gwen Baker got the start in the midweek matchup, going 1.2 innings before Hannah Messer came in as relief. Messer went 3.0 innings, followed by senior Bella Nigey for the remaining 2.1. Nigey gave up no runs with four strikeouts to secure the win for the Blue Demons to earn her third save of the season. Messer improved to 8-11.

How It Happened
Illinois State (25-16, 14-8 MVC) got on the basepaths first in the top of the second to take an early 2-0 lead.

DePaul (18-25, 6-12 BIG EAST) responded in the bottom of the frame as Parker led off the inning with a base hit and Lydia Ettema followed with a walk to put two runners on base. Pinch hitter Brooke Cwick knocked in a run on a double to make it a 2-1 game.

Rogers got the offense going again in the bottom of the third with a bunt for a hit, and Jolie Adams reached on a defensive error to put two runners on for Parker, who then delivered a three-run home run to give the Blue Demons a 4-2 edge. Ettema drew another walk and Coulter singled to put two more runners on base. Katie Borges then drew a walk to load the bases with two outs, but the Blue Demons were unable to capitalize, leaving runners stranded to end the frame.
Rogers hit her 13th double of the season to get DePaul's bats going once again in the fourth inning and set the table for Parker to hit her second home run of the day to extend DePaul's advantage to 6-2.

The Redbirds struck back in the fifth inning with a two-out rally, scoring three runs to cut the deficit to 6-5, but they were unable to add any more as the score held, securing the Blue Demon victory.

Up Next 
The Blue Demons will close out their final homestand with a three-game BIG EAST series against Butler, April 24-26. All three games will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
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