SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Rhodes battled its way through three games today allowing just one run earning a date with DePauw in the 2009 SCAC Softball Championship Game tomorrow at 11 AM CST from Trinity University.

In game one today, the Southwestern Pirates defeated Millsaps College 4-2 in the first elimination game of the SCAC Softball Championship Tournament at Trinity University.

Southwestern (19-15) opened the game with a three-run first inning, then added another run in the top of the fourth to go ahead 4-0. Millsaps was shut out until the bottom of the seventh, when the team strung together two runs on four hits. The Majors did all their damage with two outs, but left the bases loaded at the end.

Kaitlyn Pavlicek went the distance for Southwestern, improving to 11-6 with five strikeouts in the game. Blair Wallace was 2-3 for the Pirates, while Aly Pulver drove in a pair of runs. Every run in the game was scored with two outs.

Kasey Thibodeaux had a pair of hits for Millsaps, while Allison Tarbox reached base three times in the game. Amanda Bintz came on in relief for the Majors, finishing the final three innings without allowing a hit. GAME ONE BOX

In game two, Rhodes College defeated hosting Trinity University 4-0 in eight innings to move on in the SCAC Softball Championship Tournament.

Rhodes (27-11) and Trinity (13-22) battled through regulation without any runs, but Rhodes was able to break open the game in the eighth with four runs.

Sara Bowen drove in two runs in the eighth with a double, as well as pitching a complete-game four-hit shutout for the Lynx. Bowen struck out five without allowing a walk in her eight innings of work. Olivia Ryan went 2-4 in the game for Rhodes.

The Tigers managed just four hits in the game. Brittany Losey went seven innings for the Tigers, giving up three earned runs on six hits. Christina Carni and Lee Smith were both 1-3 in the game. GAME TWO BOX

In game three today, DePauw University Tigers took a 6-0 win over Hendrix College, advancing to tomorrow's SCAC Championship game.

DePauw (25-7) jumped ahead with a run in the first, then added single runs in the third and fourth innings to go ahead 3-0. In the top of the seventh, the Tigers pushed three more runs across to effectively seal the win.

Hendrix had seven hits in the game, but could not manage any runs in this game - the first loss of the tournament for the Warriors. Liz Vaughan took the loss for Hendrix, giving up just three earned runs and leading the offense with a pair of hits.

The Tigers had four different players with two hits each, including Emma Minx - who finished 2-4 with two runs scored. Also with two hits were Chelsy Patterson, Brianne Weeks, and the SCAC's all-time hits leader in Rachel Gill.  GAME THREE BOX

In the fourth game of the afternoon, Rhodes College Lynx turned in another solid performance, defeating Southwestern University 2-0 to advance in the SCAC Softball Championships.

Rhodes (28-11) scored a run in each of the first two innings, and that turned out to be all the scoring for the entire game, which was a solid outing for both teams.

Sara Bowen and Allison Conn had two hits each for Rhodes, while Blair Wallace had two of the three hits in the game for Southwestern.

Chelsea Peters pitched the complete-game shutout for Rhodes, yielding just three hits and striking out two batters. Lyndsy Maus gave up two runs in the first two innings, while Kaitlyn Pavlicek gave up just two hits over the final 4.1 innings.

Southwestern is eliminated from the tournament, finishing with a 1-2 record in its first-ever SCAC Tournament. The Pirates are a first-year program that won the SCAC West Division and earned the top seed in the division. GAME FOUR BOX

In the final game of the evening, Rhodes College Lynx earned a spot in the SCAC Championship with their third win of the day, defeating Hendrix College 4-1 to finish off the second day of action at the SCAC Softball Tournament.

Rhodes (29-11) scored three unearned runs in the top of the third to break a scoreless tie, then added another run in the fifth. Hendrix managed to answer the first scoring inning from Rhodes, but could only muster one run on three hits in the third inning.

Rebekah Moore was 3-3 with two RBI, while Sara Bowen also drove in two runs for the Lynx. Cindy Bitters improved to 8-5 with the complete-game victory, striking out four and yielding just one run on seven hits.

Jaclyn Herrera led Hendrix with a 2-2 performance at the plate, but she was charged with the loss, giving up three unearned runs in three innings.

Hendrix is eliminated with the loss, though the Warriors will tie their best finish at the SCAC Tournament (3rd place). Rhodes will advance to face DePauw in tomorrow's SCAC Championship, but will need to beat the 17th-ranked Tigers twice to win the title. GAME FIVE BOX

For more coverage of the 2009 SCAC Softball Championship including reaction from players and coaches be sure to visit the SCAC BLOG.