SOFTBALL: Huskies take on DePaul in World Series opener

After sweeping No. 11 Alabama in the Seattle super regional last weekend, the No. 6 seeded Washington softball team (40-17) now heads to the Women's College World Series (WCWS) for the first time since 2004.

Tracie Adix vs. Dena Tyson

Tyson has been somewhat quiet at the plate this postseason, and Adix has been nearly untouchable. A shift in either of those trends could spell trouble for DePaul.

"I think that our team deserves to be one of the top eight teams," coach Heather Tarr said. Tarr will be leading her UW team into the World Series for the first time in her career. "We deserve a shot at the national championship. I think we're that good."

The Huskies open play this morning against No. 14 DePaul (46-11), the only member of the eight-team field that is not a top eight seed.

The Blue Demons, who went a perfect 20-0 in the Big East this season, swept No. 3 Oklahoma in two games last weekend in the Super Regional to advance to their fourth WCWS.

Pitchers Tracie Adix and Becca Heteniak have been the biggest contributors to the Blue Demons' success this season. Adix is 21-2 with a microscopic 0.74 ERA, and is 3-0 in the postseason with a perfect 0.00 ERA.

Heteniak has been nearly as impressive, posting a 20-6 record this season with a 1.23 ERA. She has been equally dominant in postseason play, going 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA.

DePaul is led on offense by Amber Patton's .359 batting average, with Sandy Vojik not far behind at .335. Marcy Wilus has 12 home runs for the Blue Demons this season and has driven in 40 runs. Vojik has blasted 12 long balls as well.

The Huskies used 7-5 and 4-3 wins over Alabama to secure their WCWS bid, and Lauren Greer was a big part of both of those victories. Greer blasted the deciding home run Friday and then scored senior Dominique Lastrapes with a seventh inning single for what would prove to be the winning run on Saturday.

Lastrapes is one of three Husky players who have played in the WCWS.

"Some people didn't think we'd get past this weekend," Lastrapes said. "So it feels good to prove some people wrong. I tell the girls it's just like any other weekend. It's a really big thing, but you can't make it any bigger than it is."

For Lastrapes, this year's trip to Oklahoma City will be somewhat more valued than her initial appearance as a freshman.

"It's much sweeter," Lastrapes said. "We struggled the past two years at regionals and it was just good to come out on top finally."

UW ace Danielle Lawrie, who has pitched every inning of postseason play for the Huskies, will be making her WCWS debut.

"All the girls that have been there before are telling us what to expect ... which is awesome," Lawrie said.

Even though the UW team will be playing on the biggest stage possible, Lastrapes maintained that the Huskies need to take this week for what it is.

"The game is the same," Lastrapes said. "We still play between the lines, play seven innings and win."

Reach reporter Christian Caple at sports@thedaily.washington.edu.