Greencastle, Ind. - For the second straight game DePauw totaled 14 hits and the Tigers advanced in the winner's bracket of the Greencastle Regional of the NCAA Division III Softball Championship with an 11-2 win over Thomas More.
The Tigers improved to 32-13 and return to field in the championship round of the regional tomorrow at Noon. Thomas More dropped to 27-16 and will play in an elimination game later today.
Thomas More grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first as Ana Walter led off with a single and moved to second on Laura Finke's sacrifice bunt. After Dallis Knotts and Jamie Ertel drew walks, Walter scored on a wild pitch.
The Tigers countered in the second as Taylor Golden hit a two-out popup that landed just behind circle for a single. Jennifer Ridge folowed with a single that dropped just behind the circle that got past the Saints' left fielder and allowed Golden to score.
The Saints regained the lead in the bottom of the second as Staci led off with an infield single and pinch-runner Kayla Fulcher stole second, Fulcher advanced to third on a wild pitch before Walter walked. Finke reached on an error that allowed Fulcher to score.
DePauw gained a 5-2 lead in the third as Julia Waggoner led off with a bunt single and Sammi Bell followed with a single up the middle and Elizabeth Getz loaded the bases with a bunt single. Linsey Button then hammered a grand slam to right center.
Ridge led off the fourth with a single and moved to second on Gabby Smart's sacrifice bunt. Julia Waggoner walked and Bell followed with a single up the middle scoring Ridge. Getz's grounder to first plated Waggoner and made it 7-2.
The Tigers tacked on four more in the fifth as Golden, Ridge, Bell and Amanda Chastang hit RBI doubles.
DePauw totaled 14 hits with Bell and Ridge leading with three apiece. Getz and Golden each had two hits. Thomas More totaled six hits with Sammy Sagers pacing the team with two.
Kahla Nolan improved to 17-8 and allowed just one earned run in three innings, while Emma Baldwin tossed two innings of scoreless relief. Mamee Salzer dropped to 17-10 with the loss.
