DPU softball captures Super Regional crown

For the fourth time in program history the DePauw University softball team is headed to the NCAA Division III Softball Finals after defeating Moravian College by a score of 10-7 in the final game of the Greencastle Super Regional.

The Tigers improved to 35-14 on the year and will play Salisbury in their opening game of the finals hosted by the Old Dominion Athletic Conference at Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Virginia.

After a thrilling 9-6 victory to force the if-necessary game, DePauw entered the final game of the Super Regional with momentum on its side. However, the Greyhounds quickly seized control of the contest, scoring seven runs in the opening two innings.

Mary Schlosbon hit a one out single through the right side to start the inning. Dior George followed with a single to center. On the play, Schlosbon would score as Taylor Golden attempted to throw out George moving to second, but her toss sailed into right center. Julie Siragusa singled to left, plating George and Lizzie Mack doubled down the left field line to give Moravian a 3-0 lead.

Chrissy Marinaro reached on an error to open the second and moved to second on Jenn Dalickas' one-out walk. Schlosbon walked to load the bases and George followed with a double to right center, scoring Dalickas and Marinaro. Siragusa walked and Mack tacked on a 2 RBI single up the middle, stretching the Greyhounds' lead to 7-0.

Trailing by a seven run margin, the Tigers began to battle back in the bottom half of the third. Sammi Bell drew a one-out walk and moved to second on Elizabeth Getz's ground out. Linsey Button put DePauw on the board, driving Bell in with a single to left field.

Lauren Godden stepped to the plate having already blasted two three-run homers in the previous game, one of which was a walk-off bomb in the bottom of the seventh to force the if-necessary game. Godden drilled the first pitch she saw over the left field fence, drawing the Tigers to within four.

In the bottom of the fourth, Jennifer Ridge took a lead-off walk and moved to second on Gabby Smart's single up the middle. Julia Waggoner put down a sacrifice bunt, allowing both runners to move up 60 feet. Following a fly out, Getz delivered a two-out single to left field, plating Smart and Ridge.

Godden drew a walk to start the fifth inning and was lifted for pinch-runner Andi Sarkisian. Morgan McCord reached on a bunt single, but Sarkisian was tagged out after getting caught in a rundown between second and third. With two outs, Ridge was hit by a pitch and Smart followed with an RBI single to center. Pinch-hitter Alli Dennie drew a two-out walk to load the bases and Ridge would score on an illegal pitch from Amanda Carisone, tying the contest 7-7.

Having battled back from a seven-run deficit, the Tigers took their first lead of the day in the bottom half of the sixth. Button hit a one-out double to right center and Godden followed with an intentional walk. Golden would reach after being hit by a pitch to load the bases and McCord delivered an RBI ground out. Ridge gave DePauw two insurance runs, blasting a triple down the right field line, plating Golden and Godden.

Kahla Nolan took care of business in the top half of the seventh, punching the Tigers' ticket to the NCAA Finals. Nolan moved to 19-8 on the year, tossing 5.2 innings in relief with four hits, one earned run and two walks. She allowed just four base runners over the final five innings to seal the victory.

Carisone took the loss, dropping to 19-2 on the year after tossing 1.1 innings in relief. Josie Novak started the game, going 4.2 innings with seven hits and seven earned runs.

In game one earlier on Saturday, the Tigers found themselves at a 6-1 deficit with only six outs remaining before roaring back.

DePauw scored five in the bottom of the sixth, three on a Godden home run.

The freshman returned to the plate in the bottom of the seventh with two runners on and a 6-6 tie. Her second three-run homer in as many innings allowed the Tigers to walk off with a 9-6 victory.

DePauw is slated to play Salisbury on Thursday, May 21, at 4:00 p.m. Be sure to check depauwtigers.com for more information on DePauw's upcoming games.