Box Score Greencastle, Ind. - Visiting Hiram scored in each of the first three innings in taking a 4-0 lead, but second-ranked DePauw rallied for two in the third, five in the fifth and one in the sixth for an 8-4 win to claim its sixth North Coast Athletic Conference championship. The Tigers improved to 34-2 with their 18th straight win, while Hiram finished its season at 24-17. With the victory, the Tigers earned the NCAC's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Championship and will learn of their regional destination and first-game opponent on Monday's selection show at 1 p.m. on NCAA.com
Abriana Schwartz led off the game for Hiram with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A ground out moved her to third and she scored on a wild pitch. Jeskari Rodriguez singled with one out in the second and later scored on Giselle Chavez's base hit. The Terriers made it 4-0 in the third as Giselle Bahena and Mariah Sheffield led off with singles. Rodriguez drove in Bahena with a single before Rebekah Lewan singed to load the bases. Leah Valdez drew a bases loaded walk to plate Sheffield.
DePauw's comeback began in the third as Jade Mejia Wick led off with a double and scored on Kelsey Bernhard's single. Bernhard then came home when Paige Price singled.
Bernhard reached on an error with one out in the fifth and moved to second on Kate Geary's bunt single. Price delivered a single that brought home Bernhard. Kaitlyn Hagen replaced Angel Santellan in the circle and Becca St. Germain laid down a bunt back to Hagen, but Geary reached the plate before the tag. Abby Pyburn entered as a pinch-runner for St. Germain and, as she was stealing second, a throw to attempt to pick off Price at third glanced off the third baseman's glove and allowed Price to score and tie the game, 5-5.
Grace Smith walked and stole second and Chase Epp followed with a two-run double to make it 7-5. Alyssa Anderson reached on an error in the bottom of the sixth and moved to second on Bernhard's single. Pinch-runner Olivia Jackson then scored when Price doubled.
DePauw totaled 11 hits and were led by Price with three and Bernhard and Geary with two apiece. Price drove in three. Rodriguez had two of Hiram's nine hits.
Annika Garwood improved to 6-2 after allowing just one hit over three innings and retiring the final seven batters she faced. Santellan took the loss and dropped to 7-2.
Senior Kaylyn Linder was named the tournament's MVP.
