DePaul Punches Ticket For Oklahoma City and NCAA Softball World Series

Saskia Roberson

DePaul earned a berth in the NCAA Softball World Series on Saturday with a 4-3 victory over Northwestern in game two of the Blue Demons’ Super Regional series at Flames Field on the campus of Illinois-Chicago. The trip to Oklahoma City will be the third in the school’s history and first since the 2000 season.

The Blue Demons held a 1-0 lead through five innings before Northwestern tallied its first run of the series to tie the game in the top of the frame. However, DePaul plated three runs in the bottom half of the frame to regain the lead for good.

Shortstop Jessica Evans drove in the first run of the frame with a single, which was followed by another RBI-single by Dana Kenney. Sandy Vojik capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly.

The lead was not a comfortable one though as the Wildcats threatened in the final two innings scoring a run in each frame, but sophomore Megan Huitink was able to get the final out in the top of the seventh to send the Blue Demons to the eight-team tournament set for June 2-8.

Tracie Adix (24-8) started in the circle for the Blue Demons and picked up the win after allowing one run on four hits in five innings of work. Huitink, who won game one, recorded her sixth save of the season despite allowing the final two Wildcat runs.

Senior Saskia Roberson drove in the first run of the game with a RBI-single in the first. Roberson had two of the Blue Demons’ five hits in the contest.

The Blue Demons' 2005 squad is the third C-USA team to reach Oklahoma City joining the 2000 Southern Miss and DePaul teams.