With a pair of walk-off wins for Anderson University (13-9), the Tigers, ranked fourth in the latest NCAA coaches’ poll, suffered two tough loses in the final inning of each game. In the seventh inning, DePauw (16-4-1) held a two run lead only to have Anderson get on base and score three runs to win the games 11-10 and 10-9.
“It was tough to lose like that for sure,” said senior shortstop Brianne Weeks. “It’s hard when you put up nine and ten runs and you still can’t get the job done. They were getting solid hits; I can’t deny them of that.”
Sophomore pitcher Emily Bichler struggled against the persistent offense from Anderson. In the first game, the Tiger offense gave Bichler a 5-1 lead into the fourth inning only to have Anderson tie the game in the fifth and take the lead 8-5 in the sixth when freshman Megan Landahl was substituted for Bichler. DePauw rallied in the seventh, scoring five runs on doubles by senior Emma Minx and juniors Haley Buchanan and Rachel MacBeth.
With the 10-8 lead, Landahl walked the first batter she saw, which prompted head coach Bonnie Skrenta to turn to Bichler to finish off the game. Bichler got her first two batters to ground out, but could not get the final out of the game and Anderson loaded the bases. Left fielder Lys Hess of Anderson doubled to deep right over the head of right fielder Holly Paris and scored three runs to shock the Tigers.
“I think Anderson was a great team today,” Skrenta said. “Whenever we walk on a home field of another team, they are out to win.”
In game two, the Tigers came out swinging once again and established a commanding lead in the third inning with a score of 7-1. Anderson once again responded at the plate, scoring three runs in the fourth and the sixth for six unanswered runs.
Tied at seven in the seventh inning with one out, junior Cymone Allen got on base with a single and moved to third on a double by MacBeth. Junior Jen Kosinski hit a hard liner to center field for two RBI’s and to once again give the Tigers a two-run lead.
“Our team never gives up, and that’s one thing you can always count on,” said Weeks. “But they didn’t either.”
With Bichler on the mound again, the first two Anderson batters got on base with singles. First baseman Megan Kruse then hit a line drive to deep center which landed in the outfield trees for a walk-off homerun and the Tigers were left stunned again.
“There were moments where I felt like we were playing with a lead and it was more ‘let’s just not lose’ rather than ‘go out and win,'” Skrenta said. “We got out big and then got a little flat.”
With the losses, Bichler’s record dropped to 15-4 and will look to rebound from her tough afternoon on Saturday, April 9, when the Tigers host Birmingham-Southern College (19-7) in a doubleheader at 1 p.m. The losses on Thursday may give the Tigers an extra boost when they return to SCAC competition.
“This may be just a test for us to come back Saturday and Sunday even harder than before,” Weeks said. “And maybe this will be a nice wake up call.”
