Winning the NCAC regular season title was just the first step for the DePauw University softball team. Next on the list for the ladies is the conference tournament, which kicks off this afternoon.
DePauw's first round matchup pits the team against the 22-16 Ohio Wesleyan University Battling Bishops.
The teams have met six times since 2012, with the Tigers taking five of the contests. The two teams have never met in postseason play.
DePauw junior Kahla Nolan, who likely will take the mound today, tossed complete-game victories in three of those match-ups and recorded a save in another.
The 2014 edition of the Battling Bishops comes in with a potent mix of quality pitching and hitting. Their season includes victories by margins of 12 and 19, as well as eight wins by two runs or fewer.
Four Ohio Wesleyan players have driven in more than 20 runs, led by Lilly Gresh. The sophomore is batting .370 with three home runs and 25 RBIs.
Leading the pitching staff are aces Dani Haley and Sarah Flint. The pair has combined for 20 wins, and each has an earned run average south of 2.35.
A point of concern for the Battling Bishops, with today's game in Greencastle, is their 3-7 record away from home, including two losses at DePauw.
"Those wins definitely help our confidence level," said first-year Julia Waggoner said, "but our best is all we can do."
In the final ten regular season games, the Tigers posted a 6-4 record, equal to that of the Battling Bishops.
The Tigers' season has been very up and down, with a four-game losing streak and an eight-game winning streak, but one constant has been the right-hander Nolan.
The pitcher has appeared in 36 of the team's 40 games, throwing more than 210 innings and accumulating a record of 19-11, including both wins over the Battling Bishops this season. She has an earned run average of 2.50 and has struck out almost 150 opponents.
Offensively, the Tigers have been led by sophomore catcher Sammi Bell. Despite having a batting average of only .287, the catcher has belted seven home runs and driven in a team-leading 24 runs.
The Tigers' 23-17 record masks the team's accomplishments in the NCAC. The Tigers hold a conference record of 13-3, with a pair of losses to Oberlin College and one to Wittenberg University.
When playing at DePauw's Softball Field, the Tigers are 9-5.
"Playing at home this postseason gives us an advantage because we are the most familiar with our field," said junior Taylor Golden. "We also will have our friends and families out to support us."
The first pitch is scheduled for noon.