2021 NCAC Softball Tournament

2021 NCAC Softball Championship Thursday - Friday, May 13-14
Thursday, May 13	Friday, May 14
Game 1: DePauw 4, Hiram 0 - Box Score \| Photos	Game 2: DePauw 8, Hiram 4 - Box Score \| Photos

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GAME 2

DePauw (34-2) captured its second-consecutive and sixth overall North Coast Athletic Conference softball championship title after defeating Hiram (24-17), 8-4, in game two of the 2021 NCAC Softball Championship Series on Friday in Greencastle, Indiana. With the victory, the Tigers have earned the league's automatic bid into the 2021 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament.

Hiram started off the top of the first with an Abriana Schwartz (San Marcos, CA/Mission Hills) single. Schwartz then advanced to second on a wild pitch and over to third after a sacrifice by Kaitlyn Hager (Rohnert Park, CA/Rancho Cotate). Schwartz then scored the first run of the game after another wild pitch. DePauw was able to get out of the inning with two fly outs. The Tigers only managed a single from Kate Geary (Geneva, IL/Geneva) in the bottom half of the first. The Terriers were able to plate another run in the second inning. Jeskari Rodriguez (Chula Vista, CA/Southwest) singled to right center, while Hunter Whitton (Reno, NV/North Valleys) pinch ran and advanced to second on a ground out and touched third off of a single by Leah Valdez (West Covina, CA/Sierra Vista). Whitton then scored on an error by DePauw as Giselle Chavez (Downey, CA/Downey) earned the RBI. In the field, Hiram forced two DePauw fly outs and a pop up in the bottom of the second frame.

In the third frame, the Terriers received back-to-back singles by Giselle Bahena (Pomona, CA/Bishop Amat Memorial) and Mariah Sheffield (Long Beach, CA/Lakewood). Bahena then scored off of a Rodriguez single to left center, while Sheffield advanced to second and Hiram went up 3-0. Rebekah Lewan (Alta Loma, CA/Alta Loma) then loaded the bases after reaching first on an error. Valdez had a strong at bat, drawing a walk after a 3-2 count which plated Sheffield and gave the Terries a four-run lead. DePauw was then able to get out of the inning with a fly out. Mejia Wick (Woodridge, IL/Downers Grove North) started the bottom half of the inning with a double for the Tigers. Kelsey Bernhard (Downers Grove, IL/Downers Grove North) then tagged a double of her own to score Wick. An RBI single by Paige Price (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley) scored Bernhard to chip away at the Terriers lead, 4-2.

Hiram's Schwartz started the fourth frame with a walk, while Hager singled up the middle to advance Schwartz to second. Jasmine Davidson (Mount Vernon, OH/Mount Vernon) entered the game as a pinch runner for Hager. Bahena then reached base on a fielder's choice, while Schwartz took third. DePauw got out of the inning as Becca St. Germain (Plainfield, IL/Plainfield South) threw Bahena out after an attempt to steal second and the final batter struck out looking. Drew Bratcher (Reelsville, IN/South Putnam) started the bottom of the fourth with a single for DePauw and Goose Moore (Indianapolis, IN/Indianapolis Lutheran) entered as a pinch runner. Grace Smith (Noblesville, IN/Noblesville) singled up the middle, but Moore was tagged out after rounding second. Hiram ended the Tigers offense with two fly outs.

DePauw's defense recorded a one-two-three top of the fifth and then the Tigers offense recorded a five-run inning to take the lead. Bernhard reached base on an error and was advanced to second on a bunt by Geary. Price then recorded an RBI single up the middle as Bernhard scored and the tying run moved to third. St. Germain then bunted, which allowed Geary to score as she slid under the tag at home to tie the game at 4-all. Abby Pyburn (Antioch, IL/Antioch) came in to pinch run for St. Germain. Pyburn stole second, while an error at third allowed Price to score and gave DePauw the 5-4 lead, and Pyburn advanced to third on the play. Skylar Barnett (Cedar Lake, IN/Hanover Central) then drew a walk and Smith entered to pinch run for Barnett and ended up stealing second. Epp then doubled for two RBI, scoring both Smith and Pyburn, giving the Tigers a 7-4 lead. Hiram forced a ground out to end the inning.

The Tigers then posted another on-two-three inning with two strikeouts and a ground out. Alyssa Anderson (Westlake Village, CA/Agoura) led off the bottom of the sixth for DePauw and reached base on an error. Bernhard then singled, advancing Anderson to second and Olivia Jackson (Indianapolis, IN/Cathedral) entered the game to run for Anderson. Price doubled, scoring Jackson and advancing Bernhard to third, as DePauw took an 8-4 lead. St. Germain reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases with one out. The Terriers were able to get out of the inning with a tagout at the plate on an attempted steal and a strikeout. DePauw then recorded a one-two-three top of the seventh to earn the 2021 NCAC Championship.

Rodriguez led Hiram's offense as she went 2-for-3 at the plate with one RBI, while Price led DePauw as she went 3-for-4 with three RBI and one scored run. On the mound, Annika Garwood (Avon, IN/Cathedral) earned her sixth win of the season, pitching three innings, while allowing just one hit and striking out four batters.

DePauw's Kaylyn Linder (Indianapolis, IN/Scecina Memorial) was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2021 NCAC Softball Championship.

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GAME 1

DePauw (33-2) recorded a 4-0 victory over Hiram (24-16) in game one of the 2021 NCAC Softball Championship Series. First pitch of game two is scheduled for noon tomorrow, Friday, May 14, at DePauw University with the Tigers slated as the home team. Game three, if necessary, will be played 30 minutes after the completion of game two. The NCAC champion will earn an automatic berth into the upcoming 2021 NCAA Division III Softball Championship.

DePauw came out hot, putting all four of their runs on the board in the top of the first inning. Skylar Barnett (Cedar Lake, IN/Hanover Central) started off the inning for the Tigers reaching base on a hit-by-pitch. With one out and Kate Geary (Geneva, IL/Geneva) pinch running for Barnett, Caleigh Cramer (Naperville, IL/Waubonsie) stepped to the plate and connected on a two-run homerun. Then Becca St. Germain (Plainfield, IL/Plainfield South) reached base on four balls before Grace Smith (Noblesville, IN/Noblesville) belted a two-run homerun of her own, giving DePauw the four-run lead. In the bottom of the first, Hiram was only able to manage one hit from Kaitlyn Hager (Rohnert Park, CA/Rancho Cotate) who singled to right center.

The Terriers then recorded two one-two-three defensive innings, but only managed a walk by Giselle Chavez (Downey, CA/Downey) in the second and a single to left center by Abriana Schwartz (San Marcos, CA/Mission Hills) in the bottom of the third. DePauw collected a single by Mejia Wick (Woodridge, IL/Downers Grove North) and a walk by Abby Pyburn (Antioch, IL/Antioch) in the top of the fourth, and then recorded a one-two-three bottom half of the inning. The Hiram defense held DePauw scoreless in the fifth with a strikeout, ground out and pop up, but only managed a single by Larissa Baeza (Covina, CA/Covina) in the bottom of the frame.

To start the sixth, Paige Price (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley) singled and was pinch ran for by Goose Moore (Indianapolis, IN/Indianapolis Lutheran), who stole second to put a runner in scoring position for the Tigers. Hiram was able to get out of the inning after a ground out to Hager and a tag out at third. In the bottom half of the sixth, the Terriers were able to reach scoring position after Mariah Sheffield (Long Beach, CA/Lakewood) drew a walk, while Jasmine Davidson (Mount Vernon, OH/Mount Vernon) pinch ran and advanced to second as Angel Santellan (Lawndale, CA/Mira Costa) reached base on an error. DePauw was able to end the inning with a strikeout.

In the final frame, Hiram held the Tigers to just a Barnett single and allowed Drew Bratcher (Reelsville, IN/South Putnam) to reach base on an error. DePauw then recorded a one-two-three bottom of the inning to claim the win.

On the mound, Jeskari Rodriguez (Chula Vista, CA/Southwest), who started the game for Hiram and gave up two hits, four runs and one walk, was relieved by Hager, who held the Tigers scoreless after allowing just four hits and one walk in 6.2 innings of work. Cami Henry (Camby, IN/Mooresville) went seven innings for DePauw and claimed her 18th win of the season as she scattered three hits and only allowed two batters to reach base on four balls. She recorded 14 strikeouts in the win, which ties her own school record for strikeouts in a seven-inning game.

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SEEDINGS

Hiram and DePauw have earned the top seeds from the East and West Divisions, respectively. As the top seeds of each division, the Terriers and Tigers advance to the 2021 NCAC Softball Championship Series.

Hiram advances to the championship series after compiling an 11-1 East record, while DePauw clinched the No. 1 seed in the West after winning all of its first eight West Division games, to-date. No other team in the West Division can catch them at the top at this point of the season.

The championship series will be hosted by DePauw with game one tentatively slated for Thursday, May 13 at 5:30 p.m. Game two will take place on Friday, May 14 at Noon, with game three to be played 30 minutes after game two, if necessary. The winner of the championship series will earn the conference's automatic berth into the 2021 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament.

All-time, Denison leads the conference with eight NCAC Championship titles (2001-03, '06, '07, 2009-11), followed by DePauw (2013-16, '19) and Allegheny (1998, '99, '04, '08, '12) with five each. Ohio Wesleyan (2004, '05, '10) and Wittenberg (2000, '17, '18) round out the title winners, having won three championships apiece.

Spectator Policy
All NCAC championship events will be conducted using the respective campus visitors' policies; at this time, visiting team spectators are not permitted at any NCAC campus. Masking and social distancing policies are also in effect. Failure to comply with protocols will result in removal from campus.

Note: Conference policy will determine the championship field if team availability changes due to COVID 19 protocols prior to the championship game.

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2021 NCAC Softball Championship Format

The top seeds from the East and West Divisions will advance to a best-of three championship series, which will be hosted by the West Divisional top seed, unless the two schools agree to a change to accommodate facility or campus situations. Teams will play a doubleheader on the first day of play, followed by a single game the next day, if necessary.

Spectators will be permitted according to the host institution's campus visitors' policy.

The winner of the best-of three championship series will claim the 2021 NCAC Championship and also earn the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Tournament.

2021 NCAC Divisions:
East – Allegheny, Hiram, Kenyon, Wooster
West – Denison, DePauw, Ohio Wesleyan, Wittenberg