Granville, Ohio - The Tigers got to a slow start for game one of the NCAC Tournament against number-three seed Hiram before scoring the game winning run in the bottom of the sixth to serve the Terriers their first loss of the double elimination tournament, Thursday morning. 

Earlier in the season, the Tigers swept the Terriers in a doubleheader at home, 9-1 and 3-2. Today's win increased DePauw's record to 22-13 overall, 12-2 in conference, and 1-0 in postseason play.

Ella Kuenster led the Tigers offensively with two hits, while Madi Lockridge was on her toes, tallying nine putouts to lead the team defensively. 

The Terriers started on a high note, scoring two runs in the first inning to give them a 2-0 lead after holding the Tigers offensively.

The Tigers found the middle of the ball in the bottom of the second to drive in two runs, evening the score 2-2. Alex Romero-Salas started the two-run rally with a line drive up the middle. Peyton Brady hit a grounder to advance Romero-Salas to second, where she proceeded to steal third on a wild pitch. Riley Heim hit a hard grounder through the short stop to bring Romero-Salas home, for the Tigers' first run of the game.

Heim outran the catcher's throw down to steal second. Lockridge knocked a grounder just past the shortstop to put Heim on third, with only one out in the inning. With runners on the corners, Hiram's star pitcher Darian Kanno threw a wild pitch, advancing the runners and tying the score 2-2. 

In the third, the team stayed even keel, tallying one run each. Hiram's Daynna Mekaru singled up the middle and took advantage of a sac bunt and sac fly to score the Terrier's third run. Both teams held strong defensively, until the Tigers broke the tie in the bottom of the sixth, claiming the lead 4-3. Libby Minobe, from DePauw, singled to make it on base before Kuenster laid down a bunt to crash the corners, allowing Minobe to score the game winning run for the Tigers.

In the final inning, Lockridge caught two and Hanna Coffel grounded a chopper to put the Terriers away, 4-3, walking away with their first win of the tournament. 

Peyton Rohr started in the circle for the Tigers, tallying two innings before Alex Romero-Salas took over to challenge the Terriers offensively, earning her first save of the season. 

The Terriers', Darian Kanno dropped to 13-5 in the circle. Hannah Marlow led Hiram with two hits while Angel Santellan brought in all three runs for the team. 

The Tigers will return to action for game three, today at 3 p.m. when they take on the winner of game two, #1 Denison or #4 Wittenberg.