The sun cascaded down onto Cacciatore Stadium on April 21, and spectators cheered as the DePaul Blue Demons secured their 18th game of the season. They won 6-5 against the Illinois State Redbirds.
Head coach Liz Bouck-Jagielski said she was happy to see the team’s hard work “actually come to fruition.”
“We’re on a roll at the right time,” Bouck-Jagielski said. “The kids are feeling good about themselves, and you’re seeing practices translating to games now.”
DePaul started out with sophomore right-handed pitcher Gwen Baker, who opened the game with two strikeouts. In the second inning, Baker allowed two runs, giving Illinois State the lead.
Baker was then swapped for sophomore right-handed pitcher Hannah Messer.
“It was good to get the team a good few innings in,” Messer said. “Just didn’t really have my best stuff in today, but just working with what I had.”
During the third inning, DePaul was able to score three runs. First base sophomore Chelsea Parker hit a home run, which let two other runners run home as well.
In the fourth inning, Parker hit another home run with a player on base.
“I mean, it’s expected, so… just show up and hit the ball,” Parker said.
When the fifth inning rolled around, Illinois State was catching up to DePaul. They scored three runs, and Messer was switched out for senior right-handed pitcher Bella Nigey.
Nigey got four strikeouts in two innings and was able to help DePaul inch out with a win to close the game.
Parker finished the game with five RBIs, the most she’s gotten in a game this season.
The Blue Demons have won five of their last six games. Bouck-Jagielski said the big difference in these past few games is “making the routine plays,” like when pitchers catch line drives.
“That was a really good team that we beat,” Bouck-Jagielski said.
DePaul has won two games more than last season, and they still have seven games left. After that, the Big East tournament will be underway in Rosemont May 7-9.
Bouck-Jagielski said they’re preparing for the tournament “inning by inning and pitch by pitch.”
“If we finish out strong, we could have a spot in that tournament,” Bouck-Jagielski said.
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