Greencastle, Ind. - DePauw overcame a 3-0 deficit to Ohio Wesleyan with a five-run fifth before yesterday's North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament game was halted due to darkness and then came back today and held on for a 5-3 elimination game win. The Tigers improved to 21-20, while the Battling Bishops finished the season at 14-20. DePauw advanced to face Denison in an elimination game slated for 10 a.m. tomorrow (Sunday, May 14).

DePauw and Ohio Wesleyan battled through three scoreless innings before Sophia Cegledy, Rylee Anspach and Rylie Moore drew one-out walks off of DePauw starter Megan Asher. Kersten Brayton replaced Asher in the circle and Alyssa Perkins singled down the left field line, scoring Anspach and Cegledy. Sophie Leohner followed with a single that brought home Moore and gave the Battling Bishops a 3-0 lead.

Bernhard and Abby Pyburn led off with singles in the DePauw fifth before Mathies reached second on an error that allowed Bernhard to score. Yasmin entered as a pinch-runner for Mathies and Emily Timberman delivered a two-run single to even the score at 3-3.

Lily Jennings pinch-rank for Timberman and Kaelyn Rodriguez replaced Katie Chittum in the circle for Ohio Wesleyan. Drew Bratcher's single moved Jennings to second and Emily DuMais ran for Bratcher. Macey Cox doubled home Jennings to push the lead to 5-3.

The game was halted after the fifth due to darkness and the teams resumed play today. The Battling Bishops put runners on first and third with one out in the sixth, but McKenna Tuttle hit a grounder to Alyssa Anderson at second and she tagged the runner and threw to first to complete the double play and end the threat. The Tigers then retired the Battling Bishops in order in the seventh for the win.

Pyburn had two of DePauw's nine hits, while Sophie Leohner had three of Ohio Wesleyan's seven hits.

Kersten Brayton improved to 6-4, while Alex Romero-Salas collected her first save. Katie Chittum dropped to 8-13.



2023 NCAC Softball Tournament

Friday, May 12
Game 1: Denison 6, Ohio Wesleyan 0
Game 2: Hiram 6, DePauw 4
Game 3: Hiram 5, Denison 4 (11 inn.)
Game 4: DePauw 5, Ohio Wesleyan 3 (halted after the 5th inning and completed on Saturday, May 13)

Sunday, May 14
Game 5: Denison vs. DePauw, 10 a.m.
Game 6: Hiram vs. Game 5 winner, 12:30 p.m.
Game 7: Same teams as Game 6 if necessary, 30 minutes following Game 6