Issue date: 5/5/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Alex Turco Sophomore Emma Minx throws to first base during the first game of Saturday's double-header.

Media Credit: Alex Turco Senior Rachel Gill throws the ball during the first game of the double-header against Washington University-St. Louis Saturday.

A week after securing the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship, the No. 17 softball team is gearing up for the NCAA Div. III tournament. The Tigers found out Monday morning that they will play Hiram College (26-14) Thursday at 2 p.m. on their home field.

DePauw will serve as host of one of the eight regional tournaments in the Div. III Softball Championship.

Saturday, the Tigers swept No. 21 Washington University-St. Louis, a team that has since received an at-large bid to the tournament.

Playing at home, the Tigers defeated Washington 4-0 and 1-0 in Saturday's doubleheader to improve to 28-7 on the season. The Bears fell to 24-11.

The afternoon's first contest remained scoreless until the fourth, when DePauw scored two runs on three hits. Sophomore second baseman Emma Minx doubled to center field and advanced to third on a single by senior catcher Rachel Gill. After stealing second, Gill advanced to third, and Minx scored on a wild pitch.

The home team took a 2-0 lead later in the inning when sophomore first baseman Ashlee Anton singled home freshman designated player Jen Kosinski. In the sixth, a double by Kosinski and a single by Anton contributed two more runs.

Washington recorded five hits in the game, but was unable to manufacture runs. The Tiger offense had seven hits, including two by Anton. Anton also had two RBIs, while Kosinski added one.

Head coach Bonnie Skrenta said she is pleased with the offense's performance.

"Offensively, we're right on. I'm really happy with our ability to move runners," she said. "I do feel good 1-9 with all of our batters."

Junior pitcher Megan Soultz got the win, allowing five hits with four strikeouts.

DePauw won the day's second game, 1-0. Washington collected six hits and the Tigers had five, but Kosinski scored the deciding run in the fourth on a single by junior third baseman Kelly Schwerzler.

Anton had two of the Tigers' five hits, while Schwerzler added the team's lone RBI. Soultz improved to 25-7, recording her 15th shutout of the season. She allowed six hits and struck out six.

"Everything seemed to be clicking this weekend," Anton said. "I think it was good to see where we're headed going into this regional tournament. We can see what we need to work on and what we can improve."

Skrenta said the team's goal for the tournament is to go as far possible. Last year, the Tigers came within one win of the NCAA finals before losing to Unviersity of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

DePauw's first opponent, Hiram, won its first North Coast Athletic Conference title last weekend and is making its first trip to the NCAA tournament.

"I think it's going to be a good game," Skrenta said. "I definitely think we got a good seed in the bracket and playing at home I would expect nothing but the best from the team."

All DePauw students will be admitted to the games for free with the presentation of a student ID.

The regional tournament will start Thursday morning at the DePauw Softball field and will run until Sunday when a champion will be crowned and advance to the eight-team finals in Montclair, N.J.

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