CONWAY, Ark. - After a long day of rain delays, the longest game in SCAC history and having to win their way through the loser's bracket the Southwestern softball team defeated #12 DePauw, who had placed them in the loser's bracket to begin with, 3-2 late Saturday night. The win advances the Pirates to the SCAC Championship game where they will face Millsaps beginning at noon on Sunday.
The Pirates started off the day with their first game in the loser's bracket against Rhodes College. Rhodes started out strong with three runs in the first inning and SU put one on in the bottom half. The Lynx were able to put another run on the board in the second inning and held onto the 4-1 lead through six innings.
With the game slowly slipping away Southwestern had just one more chance to keep their post-season hopes alive and responded with a three run seventh, tying the game 4-4 just in the nick of time, scoring all three runs with two outs.
As extra innings got underway neither team was able to score a run until the international tie-breaker was introduced in the 11th. Southwestern, after holding Rhodes scoreless once again even with a runner starting on second, took advantage of the runner and opening. With two outs senior Katelyn Gola stepped to the plate and hit the game winning RBI single to left field, driving in Amanda Ambrose from second. Gola had a huge game going 4-6.
After the win the Pirates faced off with Trinity and two runs in the sixth inning of an otherwise scoreless game proved to be enough for the Pirates to advance further in the tournament. Haley Hughes led the way in the game going 2-3 at the plate.
Next up for Southwestern was #12 DePauw as the two teams met for the second time this tournament after Millsaps upset DePauw earlier in the day. The Pirates maintained constant pressure on the Tigers, scoring one run in the third, fourth and fifth innings, and took a 3-0 lead through five and a half innings.
DePauw would not be shutout and came roaring back in the sixth, scoring two runs and pulling within one, 3-2. SU was unable to add insurance runs to their lead and had to play sensational defense in the final inning just as the Tigers were mounting a comeback.
Sensational defense is exactly what the Pirates gave, starting with Lyndsy Maus on the mound. After five foul balls Maus got Hallett to ground out to Gola for the first out and then quickly got Anton to do the same. After one last foul ball by Buchanan Maus got the final batter to pop up to the right side infield, ending the game and thrusting Southwestern into the Championship game.
In just their second year of existence the Pirate softball team has the chance to make a statement Sunday as they face Millsaps for the SCAC title and automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Southwestern has a tall order, however, as they will have to defeat the Majors twice in this double elimination tournament. The two teams met earlier this season in Jackson, Miss. and Millsaps took the series 3-1 in four hotly contested games.
Action is set to begin at 12:00 pm Central Time and all the action can be caught live via CollegeTVTicket or PrestoSports live stats.