Greencastle, Ind. - Second-seed Wittenberg advanced to the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament championship after eliminating DePauw by a 6-5 count.

The visiting Tigers improved to 22-12 and face Allegheny in today's championship game, needing to beat the Gators twice to win the tournament title. DePauw finished its season at 22-17.

Wittenberg scored twice in the first as Loren Combs led off the game by reaching second on a throwing error. She moved to third on a ground out and scored when an attempted pickoff throw went wide and into the outfield. Laura Rose followed with a double and crossed the plate when Kaitie Harrison singled.

Rose led off the third with a single and stole second before scoring on Harrison's single to right. Rachel Ross was hit by a pitch from Emily Bichler who replaced Haleigh Chasteen in the circle. Shelby Knapp advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt and Ashlee Wright followed with a two-run single to make it 5-0.

DePauw reached the board in the bottom of the third as Sammi Bell homered to left with one out. The Tigers loaded the bases with singles by Amy Hallett and Chasteen and a walk to Lauren Krumwiede, but a ground out ended the threat.

Combs singled to start the Wittenberg fourth and moved to second on a grounder. She then stole second and came home when the throw was wide of third.

Hallett reached on an error with one out in the fifth and scored when Chasteen doubled to right center. Chasteen moved to third on the throw, but was put out in a rundown on Linsey Button's grounder.

DePauw rallied in the bottom of the seventh as Bell reached on an error and Hallett followed with a two-run homer to left.

Catherine Conte walked before Krumwiede singled to short, scoring Hendrickson. Jamie Story's fly out to left ended the game.

Hallett had three of DePauw's seven hits and Chasteen added a pair. Combs, Rose and Harrison each had six of Wittenberg's eight hits. Chasteen was hit by a pitch and pinch-hitter Grace Hendrickson moved second on a passed ball and to third on a wild pitch.

Ross improved to 17-5 on the season, while Chasteen dropped to 3-4.