DePaul University

Weekly Notes
Internet Radio for Valparaiso
Gametracker for all USF Games
Internet Radio for Sunday’s USF Game  

CHICAGO - The DePaul softball team will hit the road for five games this week.  On Wednesday, the Blue Demons will take on Valparaiso and over the weekend they will play a three-game Conference USA series at USF. The Blue Demons sit atop the C-USA standings and have won 18 of their last 21 games.

Facts on File

Valparaiso (7-34-1, 7-10 Mid Con)

Series with DePaul:  0-36

Last time vs. DePaul: L, 12-3

Head Coach: Randy Schneider

USF (35-21, 12-6 C-USA)

Series with DePaul: 8-18

Last time vs. DePaul: L, 4-3

Head Coach:  Ken Eriksen

Last Week

The Blue Demons took two of three from East Carolina to win their sixth C-USA series of the season and remain atop the C-USA standings. DePaul has yet to lose a C-USA series this season and holds a two-game lead on Louisville with two league series remaining (at USF, vs. Louisville). Senior All-American Saskia Roberson belted a game-tying two-run homer in Sunday’s series-clincher, giving her 48 for her career. Roberson finished the week with a .364 average, two home runs, three RB and was walked intentionaly three-times. The Blue Demons scored a season-high 13 runs in Saturday’s game-one victory over the Pirates. A 1-0 loss in game two snapped the club’s 10-game winning streak in league games. Sophomore pitcher Tracie Adix went 2-1 on the week with her only loss coming in the 1-0 setback to East Carolina on Saturday. Adix helped the Blue Demons split a mid-week doubleheader with Notre Dame as she tossed a complete-game victory against the Fighting Irish. DePaul travels to USF for a C-USA weekend series in Tampa.

Nine!

The Blue Demons rode the wave of a nine games winning streak from March 26-April 10. DePaul, streak was broken by a 7-6, loss at Illinois on April 12. The nine-game streak was the longest since the Blue Demons won 21-games in 2003 (March 26-April 24).  Illinois also broke that streak with a 1-1 tie in Champaign in 2003.

No Hit Huitink

Sophomore pitcher Megan Huitink threw her first career no-hitter against Florida Atlantic on February 26, while the Blue Demons were competing at the NFCA Classic.  Huitink became only the sixth pitcher in the NFCA Classic’s ten year history to throw a no hitter.  The sophomore struck out 12 of the 24 batters she faced.

Roberson Putting Out the Records

Senior All-American Saskia Roberson has her eyes on three DePaul career records, the record for putouts, RBI and doubles.  The senior began the season with 878 putouts, 134 RBI and 31 doubles; needing 458 putouts and 44 RBI to take over the records and 13 doubles to enter the top-five.  With 12 games left in the season, Roberson has registered 381 putouts, 31 RBI and nine doubles, pulling her within games of records.  The senior already holds the school record for most career home runs, a record she broke as a junior.  Roberson has 48 career home runs.

Evans Streak

Sophomore Jessica Evans rode the wave of a nine game hitting streak, from March 26 - April 13 at Illinois. During the streak, Evans batted .440 and has recorded eight RBI and two doubles and a home run.  A nine-game hitting streak is the longest hit-streak a Blue Demon has had this season. 

Roberson C-USA Home Run Queen and RBI Princess

Seniors Saskia Robersoner and Houston’s Kristin Glowacz are locked in a pair of tight races to see who will finish their respective careers as Conference USA’s all-time home run and RBI leaders. Through games of April 24 both seniors have surpassed the previous home run mark of 38.  Roberson currently has a four home run lead over Glowacz and trails her by one, in the RBI race.    

Senior’s Seeing Double

Jenny Doezie and Saskia Roberson became members of the double-double club this season. The two seniors have recorded two doubles in one game.  Doezie registered her first double-double game against Houston on March 22nd.  Roberson recorded two double-doubles this season, her first coming came against Gardner Webb (2/5) and her second against North Carolina (2/25).  In 2004, Roberson recorded a team high four double-doubles.  

Adix in the Circle

Sophomore right handed pitcher Tracie Adix has be exceptional on the mound in her last 13 appearances, picking up the win in 10 of those games.  The sophomore (17-5) has allowed just eight earned runs and has struck out 45 batters for a 0.74 ERA in 75.2 innings of work. 

Collegiate Firsts

Freshman Sandy Vojik and junior Sara Bandauski each registered their first collegiate home run during the three-game Conference USA with Southern Miss. Vojik finished the series with a .889 slugging percentage and Bandauski finished with a .714 slugging percentage.

Closing Specialist

Senior pitcher, Leslie Scott has been the Blue Demons closer this season.  The senior has pitched the final inning five times this season, giving up no runs and five hits.

Returning to Wish

DePaul returns to Wish Field on May 5th to take on C-USA and future BIG EAST opponent Louisville. The two teams, separated by two-games in the C-USA standings will play a three-game series May 5-6.  Last season the Blue Demons and the Cardinals met four times, three-times during the regular season and once during the C-USA Tournament.  Louisville led the 2004 series 3-1 but the Blue Demons lead the overall series, 16-8.

Preseason Conference USA Honors

Roberson is the league’s top returning home run (13) and RBI (55) threat from a year ago and brings a lofty .340 career average into her final campaign with the Blue Demons. Roberson, who finished the 2004 season with the 46th best batting average in the country (.393) and the 40th highest slugging percentage, is the league’s only returning All-American.

2004 All C-USA recipient sophomore Linda Secka joined Roberson on the preseason honor list in the outfield.  Secka played centerfield and finished the 2004 season with the 18th highest conference batting average (.349) and led the Blue Demons with four triples.

Picked Fourth

DePaul enters its final season in Conference USA and was tabbed to finish the regular season in fourth behind the favorite Louisville, Houston and USF.  The Blue Demons have won three regular season titles (2001, 2002, 2003) and three consecutive Tournament Titles (2002, 2003, 2004).

Tournament Season

The Blue Demons participated in some of the nation’s best tournaments, the Clearwater Invitational, the Stanford Invitational, the NFCA Lead-Off Classic and the KIA KLASSIC.  The Blue Demons faced eight ranked team in their first 18 games.  They picked up a pair of wins over ranked teams, they defeated No. 4 Oklahoma, 4-1 at the Clearwater Invitational and they shutout No. 18 Nebraska, 2-0 at the KIA Klassic. 

April Birthdays

Two Blue Demons have birthdays in the month of April.  Sophomore Megan Huitink will celebrate on the 14th while freshman Allie Mulligan is on the 30th.

New Faces

The Blue Demons have five new faces in the dugout, freshmen Katie Hanson (Oregon, Ill.), Allie Mulligan (Chicago, Ill.), Marcy Wilus (Lyons, Ill.) and Sandy Vojik (Riverside, Ill.).  Megan Huitink a sophomore transfer from the University of Illinois also joins DePaul this season.  The five new faces add power, speed and versatility to Blue Demon line-up.

Becoming Cacciatore Stadium

DePaul will play their final season on Wish Field before the field is closed for improvements and will be renamed Cacciatore Stadium.  The stadium will feature covered dugouts, enhanced batting cages and bullpen areas, permanent seating and a working press box.