Jenn Horton

The College of Wooster lost a pitching duel with DePauw University, as the Tigers used a solo home run in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie and then held off the Fighting Scots to prevail 2-1 in an opening round match-up Friday at the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament in Meadville, Pa.

The Scots (25-14) were scheduled to play against Allegheny College (26-10-1) later in the day, but the game was postponed due to rain. Instead, Wooster will take on the Gators tomorrow at noon, with the winner facing off with DePauw (27-10) at 2 p.m. Denison University (26-16) won a pair of games this afternoon, and will meet Wooster, Allegheny, or DePauw in the championship game Sunday at 10 a.m.

Jenn Horton and Emily Bichler each pitched strong, nearly identical outings, as both gave up just five hits and one walk to keep their teams in contention.

Wooster scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the first inning, as Paige Goldberg reached base on a wild pitch, and Demi Hart singled to put runners on first and second. Horton then followed that up with a hard-hit blast to left field, which was mishandled, allowing Goldberg to speed around and put the Scots in front 1-0.

Horton had allowed just one hit through three innings, but DePauw managed two hits in the fourth, with the second plating the game's tying run. Jen Kosinski led off the frame with a single, and shortly after was advanced to third, following a sacrifice bunt and a groundout. At that juncture, Haley Buchanan hit a two-out single to centerfield, and this time, a Wooster miscue allowed a runner to score.

With the score tied 1-1 heading into the sixth inning, Amy Hallett put DePauw ahead for good with a solo shot to left field.

The Scots managed just one base hit after that, a single by Gina Pirolozzi in the seventh, as the Tigers held on to triumph in the low-scoring affair.

Wooster's hits came off the bats of five different players, as Hart, Horton, Pirolozzi, Skye Patterson, and Erica Villa each notched singles.