Greencastle, Ind. – The DePauw softball team defeated Ohio Wesleyan 5-2 in an elimination game of the North Coast Athletic Conference Softball Tournament on Saturday.

DePauw (28-15) advances to take on Wittenberg, who went undefeated yesterday in the tournament. DePauw will need two wins to take home the championship.

After Ohio Wesleyan (16-21) got an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Tigers played some small ball to put up three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Linsey Button laid down a sacrifice bunt to score one, another run scored on a wild pitch and Gabby Smart singled home a run.

Ashlee Gibson started the game for DePauw but was pulled after 1.2 innings. She gave up two runs, one earned, and four hits. Brooke Bandy (9-5) came in to pitch the remainder of the game and picked up the win.

Ohio Wesleyan loaded the bases in the top of the third, but Bandy struck out the final two batters to leave them loaded. That was Ohio Wesleyan's last real threat to score against the freshman.

Ohio Wesleyan started Allie DeLooze (7-9), who lasted just 1.1 innings in the loss. She gave up three earned runs. Bianca Sibilly pitched the remainder 4.2 innings and gave up just two earned runs on eight hits.

Lauren Godden had the team's only extra-base hit with a double. She finished 2-for-2. Haleigh Chasteen and Sidney Holler each went 2-for-3 with Holler collecting two RBI. Sammi Bell was 2-for-2 at the top of the order.

Amanda Boyle, Sarah Flint and Jess Gooden each collected two hits for the Battling Bishops.