Washington, Pa. – Only a week removed from losing to Wooster in the NCAC Tournament by scores of 18-3 and 25-6, DePauw returned the favor Saturday with a 13-4 win, knocking the No. 8 Fighting Scots out of the NCAA Tournament and staying alive themselves to see another day.
While the offense scored 13 runs on 20 hits, it was the pitching that got DePauw (33-12) off and running with starter Grant Rademacher pitching three clean innings to open the game.
Rademacher (3-0), in his first start of the year, pitched 5.2 innings of two-run baseball. Only one run was earned and he struck out a season-high seven batters.
DePauw led 3-1 when Rademacher handed the ball off to senior Andrew Quinn. Quinn, in his third relief appearance, continued the strong pitching and closed out the game to earn his first save. In 3.1 innings of work he also gave up two runs (one earned) and struck out four.
On offense, the Tigers were back to normal. They broke open a 3-2 game in the final three innings posting two runs in the seventh and four runs in both the eighth and ninth innings.
Mike Hammel hit his 13th home run of the year in the third to open the scoring for the Tigers. He now ties Jack Thompson for not just the team lead but the single season school record.
DePauw's next two runs came in the fourth as Elliot Shebek grounded out to second for an RBI, and catcher Brayden White hit an RBI single to center.
DePauw created some insurance runs in the seventh to move ahead 5-2 before breaking open the game in the final two innings. Five of their final eight runs came off singles. Hammel's home run and a CJ Yoannou double were the Tigers' only extra base hits in the game.
Thompson and Collin Einertson extended their hit streaks to 26 and 24, respectively. Einertson had a game-high four hits, going 4-for-6 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Thompson went 3-for-5, and Hammel went 3-for-3 drawing three walks and scoring four times. Yoannou, Tate Stewart and Reid Pittard all collected two hits. Ten DePauw batters reached base.
Wooster (36-10) starting pitcher Tyler Schuch picked up his first loss of the season after going just four innings and being tallied for three runs.
Next up, the Tigers will play another elimination game, this time against SUNY Cortland. The two teams met to open the tournament where DePauw rallied for an 8-5 win.
SUNY Cortland then strung together a pair of wins against La Roche (3-2) and Earlham (5-0), and with Wooster out, they are now the top remaining seed at No. 2.
Start time will be announced later.