Greencastle, Ind. - DePauw avoided elimination with a 5-2 win over Hiram in game six of the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament, but the Terriers blanked the Tigers, 7-0, to claim their second straight conference tournament title. DePauw finished its season at 23-21, while Hiram improved to 24-14 and earned automatic qualification into the NCAA Division III Championship.

In the opening game, DePauw grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Kelsey Bernhard led off with a double, moved to third on Abby Pyburn's grounder and scored on Emily Minett's ground out.

In the fourth Ella Ohrvall and Alyssa Anderson drew walks before Drew Bratcher reached on an error that allowed Ohrvall to score and Anderson to move to third.  Lilly Jennings then grounded out which brought home Anderson and gave the Tigers a 4-0 lead.

Katie Mathies led off the DePauw fifth with a double and advanced to third on Riley Heim's sacrifice bunt. Mathies came home when Ohrvall reached on an error.

Hiram's runs came in the sixth as Angel Santellan led off with a single and pinch-runner Balurdi moved to third when Victoria Garcia singled. Abriana Schwartz brought home Balurdi with a sacrifice fly. Fayth Kawamura then singled and an error on the play allowed Garcia to score.

Bernhard and Pyburn each had two of DePauw's six singles, while Darian Kanno and Kawamura each had two of Hiram's eight hits.

Kersten Brayton improved to 7-4, while Kanno dropped to 10-5.

The championship game followed and Hiram set the tone with two runs in the first as Kawamura walked and Kylie Perez singled and both moved up on Giselle Bahena's sacrifice bunt. After Kanno was intentionally walked, Santellan reached on a fielder's choice that scored Kawamura. Garcia then brought home Perez with a base hit.

The Terriers added two more in the second as Danielle Robles was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a passed ball, to third on a wild pitch and scored when Kawamura reached on an error. After Kawamura stole second, Perez moved her to third with a sacrifice bunt and Bahena drove her in with a single.

Kanno doubled with two outs in the fourth and scored when Santellan singled. The Terriers added two more in the seventh to wrap up the scoring. 

Mathies had two of DePauw's six hits, while Santellan, Kanno and Schwartz each had two of Hiram's nine. The Tigers left 12 on base in the contest including three each in the opening two innings.

Trinity Meza improved to 6-4, while Kanno collected her second save. Kerten Brayton dropped to 7-5.

The all-tournament team included:

Sophie Leohner, Ohio Wesleyan
Brianna Gonzalez, Denison
Victoria Garcia, Hiram
Fayth Kawamura, Hiram
Abby Pyburn, DePauw
Kelsey Bernhard, DePauw
Katie Mathies, DePauw
Giselle Bahena, Hiram
P - Trinity Meza, Hiram
P - Megan Asher, DePauw
At-Large - Brooke Surbaugh, Denison
MVP - Darian Kanno, Hiram