Birmingham, Ala. - Third-ranked DePauw opened the 2016 season with a doubleheader sweep at Birmingham-Southern, dropping the first game 8-0 and winning the nightcap, 3-1.

In the opener, the team battled to a scoreless tie until the Panthers broke through in the bottom of the fourth. Savannah Lee led off with a double and pinch-runner Abby Spencer advanced to third on a wild pitch. Alex Skene drew a walk and later stole second. Maddie Ridgway singled home Spencer with two outs and Skene was thrown out at the plate on the play.

In the fifth, Amanda Ballew and Torrie Garner each singled before Micaela Beck reached on a fielder's choice that forced Garner at second. With two outs, Savannah Lee reached on an error that allowed Ballew to score.

The Panthers ended the game in the sixth with six runs on seven hits with the Tigers committing two errors.

Linsey Button and Haleigh Chasteen each had one hit on the loss, while Ballew had three of Birmingham-Southern's 12 hits. Ridgway and Lee each had two.

Emma Baldwin suffered the loss, while Taylor Harkins moved to 2-0 with the two-hit shutout.

The Panthers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning of the second game as Garner's double scored Ballew. DePauw reached the scoreboard in the top of the second as Chasteen doubled and Kathleen Byers entered as a pinch-runner. Gabby Smart's two-run homer to left center gave the Tigers their first lead.

DePauw added one more in the fourth as Button led off with a double and pinch-runner Sarah Beischer moved to third on Lauren Godden's grounder. Chasteen delivered a single up the middle that plated Beischer.

The Tigers totaled seven hits paced by Chasteen and Smart with two each. Spencer had three of Birmingham-Southern's seven hits, while Ballew added two.

Brooke Bandy moved to 1-0 with her first colllegiate game in the circle, while Haley Crumpton dropped to 0-1.

DePauw travels to Berry (Ga.) tomorrow for a Noon doubleheader.