While many students traveled for fun and relaxation over spring break, the Tiger softball team hit the road for a rigorous game schedule.
The Tiger softball team didn't get much rest as they played 11 games in seven days during spring break. With just one day of rest on Wednesday, DePauw went 8-2-1 for an overall record of 12-2-1 and opened up Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference competition winning five of six games.
With their strong week, the Tigers increased their national ranking from No. 8 to No. 6 as the Tigers defeated and then tied last week's No. 1 undefeated Emory College (26-1-1).
The Tigers' first games of spring break were against SCAC conference rival Rhodes College (15-11, 2-6 SCAC) on March 19. In the first game, the Tigers scored early but fell silent as Rhodes scored five unanswered runs to hand DePauw their first loss of the season.
In the next three games against Rhodes, the Tigers' offense sought vengeance and routed Rhodes by a score of 8-1 on Saturday, then 14-3 and 15-0 on Sunday.
On Monday, the Tigers played just one game against LaGrange College (13-8), which lasted 10 innings. Throughout the game, the offense wasn't able to capitalize on the five errors made by LaGrange, and the game proceeded into extra innings. In the 10th, junior Holly Paris hit a RBI fielder's choice for a score of 1-0 and then made a dramatic diving play for the final out of the game.
After splitting two games against Piedmont College (13-7) on Tuesday, Wednesday was a day of rest and more travel for the Tigers as they would face Emory on their home field the next day. Head coach Bonnie Skrenta was concerned the day off would ruin some of her team's momentum.
"In my perspective, that is the scariest day to play," Skrenta said. "In all my years, there's always a letdown after a day off."
Skrenta's team reacted in the opposite fashion. Using the day off as a time to rest, the team stayed mentally prepared and came out with a mission to take down the nation's No. 1 team.
When the Tigers took batting practice an hour before game time, Skrenta told her players one thing — to try and hit for the gaps in the outfield and hit the ball hard because against LaGrange, the Tiger's hard hit balls fell into outfielders' gloves instead of dropping for doubles or singles.
"I don't think I spoke another word," Skrenta said. "I don't think I told them who the starting lineup was. I was just along for the ride."
The Tigers jumped out to take the lead in the first inning from a two-run homerun by senior Emma Minx. In the second inning, junior Rachel MacBeth singled in junior Cymone Allen for a 3-0 lead. But Emory responded with two runs of their own in the second inning and three more in the third taking the lead 5-3.
"The girls just stepped up when they needed to," Skrenta said. "We would give up a run, and someone would get up to bat for us and knock in a couple runs to keep the game close the entire game."
With two outs in the fifth, Minx and junior Haley Buchanan kept the inning alive with consecutive singles for sophomore Amy Hallett. Hallett launched a deep shot to center field scoring both runners to tie the game at 5-5. Emory responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning taking the lead back.
In the seventh and final inning of the game with the Tigers down by one, DePauw loaded the bases on three straight singles with sophomore Jamie Story approaching the plate with one out. After falling behind in the count, Story drove a 1-2 pitch to right field, which allowed sophomore Sam Szyska to beat the throw home for an RBI sacrifice fly. With two outs, sophomore Lucy Cohen pinch-hit for Allen and hit a ground ball through the third baseman and the shortstop into the outfield to score Hallett from third. Sophomore Emily Bichler pitched a perfect inning, and the Tigers handed Emory their first loss of the season with a final score of 7-6.
"They were huge games, and they totally got us pumped," Hallett said. "We're proud to say that we gave number one ranked Emory their first loss."
In the second game against Emory, an offensive battle ensued once again, reaching a conclusion after 10 innings of play. The game resulted in a 9-9 tie as darkness began to set in on the field.
"I've never seen a group of girls like these who are fighters," Skrenta said. "I wouldn't want to be in a boxing ring with them because they would just get it done. They just keep stepping up even when they are tired."
That sentiment showed as they faced Sewanee: The University of the South (2-4, 0-2 SCAC) for a doubleheader the next day and won in dominating fashions by scores of 10-4 and 18-1. In the second game, Bichler was finally given rest after starting all previous 14 games and freshman Megan Landahl made her first collegiate start and got her first win.
"With our limited pitching staff, we have to have that fight," Hallett said. "We're really confident when we come out on the field. Our offense has stepped it up, and any one of our hitters can come in at any time and just make the right play."
The Tigers will use that strength when they matchup with Hope College (12-5-1) in their first home games on Saturday.