Box Score Greencastle, Ind. - DePauw stayed alive in the NCAA Division III Championship after defeating Piedmont in an elimination game by a 3-2 score in the Greencastle regional. The Tigers improved to 35-10 and face Hiram in an elimination game that was postponed until Sunday due to heavy rains. The Lions finished their season at 31-11.
Piedmont grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first as Kaitlin Isley singled with one out, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Kara Taylor followed with a run-scoring ground out to second.
DePauw countered in the bottom of the first as Grace Smith led off with a single and moved to second on Goose Moore's sacrifice bunt. Jade Mejia Wick then hit a grounder to short and an error on the throw to second to try to put out Smith allowed both runners to advance. Paige Price then delivered a two-run single.
The Lions evened the score in the third as Isley reached on an error and advanced to second. She then stole third and scored on Kara Taylor's sacrifice fly.
DePauw scored what would be the game-winning run in the bottom of the third as Smith singled and moved to second on a throwing error on the play. Moore's bunt single moved Smith to third and Moore was caught in a rundown that allowed Smith to score from third and give DePauw a 3-2 lead.
Piedmont's best scoring opportunity to tie the contest came in the fourth when Hannah Smith singled and moved to second on Madison Henry's sacrifice bunt. Smith then went to third on a wild pitch. Lyndzi Partlow hit a grounder to Drew Bratcher at third and Bratcher's threw to the plate where Kelsey Bernhard made the tag on Smith.
Smith had two of DePauw's six hits, while Isley led the Lions with three of their six hits.
Kandra Butcher improved to 3-1, while Emma McBrayer dropped to 15-3.
