DePauw University

Springfield, Ohio. - The DePauw Tigers closed out their 2026 season with a hard fought loss to Wittenberg, 3-2. With the loss, the Tigers finished their season with an overall record of 25-16 (.610) and a conference record of 11-3 (.786).

As the visiting team, the Tigers began behind the plate with one walk and three infield line outs to make it a quick four up, four down. Wittenberg claimed the lead by walking the first, singling to right field and advancing on a throwing error by Libby Minobe, and walking another to fill the bases before the four hole came up to hit. Two consecutive ground out RBIs to Kelsey Schneider at second base tallied the Tigers two run lead against DePauw, despite only tallying one hit in the inning

Back on offense, Hanna Coffel laid down a bunt to get on base while Ella Ohrvall hammered a single to shortstop to put Coffel in scoring position, and Avery Welsh drew four straight balls to fill the bases for the Tigers. A single to short left center delivered by Minobe drove home the two tying runs, making it anyone's ballgame.

Fighting back, Wittenberg's lead off batter drew a long at bat to take a walk and laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner to second. In a scramble, Wittenberg launched a fly ball into left field where Ohrvall lost her footing trying to throw the ball in, tallying an unearned run for Wittenberg. Leading 3-2 in the bottom of the 2nd, DePauw quickly put away two batters to end the inning.

Reaching a plateau in play, DePauw went three up, three down at the plate before doing the same defensively against Wittenberg for the third inning. Schneider tallied two outs at second to keep the score the same heading into the fourth. 

Showing some patience at the plate, Kendall Hynes drew a walk in time to advance to second off a single through the left side delivered by Avery Welsh. With a runner in scoring position, Minobe swung and knocked a ball straight into the dirt for an unintentional bunt to end the top of the fourth scoreless. DePauw allowed one on base in the fourth off a single up the middle, but made quick work to end the inning yet again scoreless for both teams.

DePauw Tigers struggled behind the plate, recording two ground outs and a pop up while Wittenberg patiently took a walk, stole second, and got caught in a pickle between second and third to end the inning on a high note defensively.

With two innings remaining DePauw struggled to find a gap in the field, fly out once and ground out to the right half of the field for two. Wittenberg hammered a double to the left field warning track but struggled to drive her in to extend their lead. 

The Tigers showed their most promising offensive front in the seventh. Hynes tallied her second walk of the day before Wittenberg switched pitchers with zero outs on the board. Welsh struck out looking, Minobe knocked the last hit of her collegiate career in right center, Ella DuMais pinch hit a pop up, and Eliza Rammel concluded the afternoon's match up with a ground out to second. 

Izzy Deveau dropped to 11-6 after facing 25 batters and throwing 53 strikes for 86 pitches. Wittenberg' Julie Hall improved to 11-6 after facing 26 batters and throwing 46 strikes for 85 pitches. 

DePauw edged Wittenberg in hits 5-3 but lost in strikeouts 3-0. 

Seniors Libby Minobe and Alex Romero-Salas were named to the North Coast Athletic Conference 2026 Softball All-Tournament Team.

All-Tournament Team