With its postseason position matchup already locked in, DePauw's baseball team split a doubleheader against Anderson University in the regular season finale Tuesday evening at Walker Field.
The strong breeze blowing out to left field gave each offense an advantage. The Tigers blew out game one 22-7, while Anderson got the best of DePauw in the second contest 8-5.
A pair of grand slams by junior Cory Meixner and senior Zach Starr powered the 16-18 Tigers in the first game. The pair combined for eight hits and 12 RBIs on the afternoon.
"Our team has maintained a solid approach at the plate, trying to lay off pitcher's pitches and only swing at balls in our zone," said Meixner. "With that mentality, everything just seemed to click and we got on a roll."
Despite Meixner's grand slam in the bottom of the second inning, the Tigers came to bat in the third with the game tied at six.
That would quickly change as the Tigers exploded for eight runs in the inning, thanks in part to Starr's four-run shot. The Tigers added at least two runs in each of the final three innings.
First-year Nick Horvath collected the win for DePauw, despite giving up all seven of the Ravens' runs.
As the teams prepared for the final game of the series, the wind began to die down, taking much of the Tigers' offense with it.
The Ravens took the game 8-5.
"They were around the zone a lot more, not putting as many runners on through walks or hit-by-pitches and didn't fall behind in the count as much, so we couldn't just sit on fastballs," Meixner said.
Two big innings from Anderson put the game away early. The Ravens hung up three runs in the first inning and four more in the second.
DePauw rallied with runs in the fourth and fifth innings thanks to RBI singles from Starr and sophomore Connor Einertson. The Tigers trailed by five in the bottom of the sixth when Einertson homered to left, driving in two. The rally would stop there, however, as Anderson held on for the win.
DePauw's starter, junior Eric Steele, suffered a difficult outing. The right-hander went only one and two-thirds innings, giving up seven runs, two coming on a Jeremy Shelmadine homer to left.
Splitting the non-conference series does not affect DePauw's postseason standings. The Tigers are locked into a cross-divisional series matchup with the NCAC Eastern Division's third-place finisher, Oberlin College.
DePauw players said playing at Walker Field gives them an advantage over the 17-17 Yeomen.
"Having the home crowd and being used to how our field plays will play a big part," said shortstop Michael Hartnagel, a first-year.
Despite playing in the same conference, the two teams have never faced.
"We've been preaching the same strategy at the plate and on the mound, no matter the opponent," said Oberlin pitching coach Phil Brua. "We know when that is executed, we usually come out successful. It's all about just trusting the process."
Starr and the rest of the Tigers are pleased with their performance as they head into the playoffs.
"It's always nice as a team to be playing your best baseball headed into the postseason," said Starr. "This team can accomplish a lot when we play with confidence."
The cross-divisional is a best of three series with the winner advancing to the NCAC tournament.
A doubleheader is scheduled for Saturday beginning at 12 p.m. The first pitch of the Sunday game is scheduled for noon as well. The two teams will play the third game no matter the outcome of Saturday's games.