CONWAY, Ark. - The top two seeds heading into the 2010 SCAC Softball tournament, Millsaps in the West and DePauw in the East advanced to tomorrow’s winner’s bracket semi-final match on a rain soaked first day from Hendrix College in Conway Arkansas.

Game One
In the first game of the tournament; Southwestern defeated Centre 8-2 in a game that saw just over a two hour lightning and rain delay. Sophomore Kaitlyn Pavilcek went 2-for-4 from the plate and added two RBIs to lead the Southwestern. BOX SCORE

Rhodes opened the scoring with a solo home run in the second inning thanks to Sara Bowen. Trinity countered with a run in the third on a bases-loaded walk, then added two more runs in the fifth. Alexa Calderon picked up her second RBI with a single, and Ana Garcia cracked a run-scoring double.

A three-run sixth inning was keyed by an RBI triple by Karen MacPherson, who later stole home. Calderon drove in her third run of the game with a double to left-center field, then Rhodes closed the score to 4-6 on a two-run homer in the seventh from Kelli Zomer.  The Tigers were able to hang on for the win in the end, though.

Calderon batted 2-2 with three RBI, while MacPherson stole two bases in the game, bringing her season total to 28. She hit 2-4 with an RBI and two runs.

Sara Bowen took the loss for Rhodes who allowed nine hits and seven walks. Bowen however did add ten strikeouts to her league leading 176 headed into the SCAC Tournament.

Right-handed pitcher Sydney Friday went the distance, and took the victory. Friday (7-8) allowed four earned runs, six hits, three walks, and fanned seven Rhodes batters.

Game Three
In the third game of the evening, DePauw senior pitcher Megan Soultz allowed just three singles and posted her 45th career shutout and 104th win as the 12th-ranked Tigers defeated Southwestern 3-0. BOX SCORE

The Tigers scored all they would need in the fourth when Amy Hallett ripped a one-out triple and scored when Ashlee Anton followed with a double.

They added two more in the fifth as Cymone Allen led off with a bunt single and moved to second on Brianne Weeks' sacrifice bunt. Emma Minx hit a two-out triple which scored Allen and Holly Paris followed with a run-scoring single.

DePauw totaled seven hits with Anton leading the way with a pair of doubles. Three different Southwestern players had one hit apiece, but the Pirates couldn't get a runner to second in the contest.

Game Four
The nightcap saw top seeded Millsaps out of the west defeat Trinity 6-0. BOX SCORE

The Tigers managed only one hit in the game with Millsaps - a single to center field by Ana Garcia in the fifth inning. Trinity did draw two walks in the game. Millsaps hit two home runs in the game, two-run shots in the third and fifth innings in thanks to Emily Spicer and Jennifer McKinley.

McKinley, a senior, has now tied the SCAC career record for home runs with 28 along with Rhodes' senior Rebekah Moore. This season McKinley has blasted 13 home runs good enough to tie for the best in the nation.

Sarah Rabaey was Trinity’s starting pitcher and took the loss. Rabaey (3-6) allowed five earned runs, seven hits, and no walks, in 4 1/3 innings of work. Helen Thompson pitched the final 1 2/3 innings, and did not yield a run, hit or walk.

Senior Kasey Thibodeaux picked up the win for Millsaps in brilliant fashion with a complete game one hit shutout. Thibodeaux also struck out five Tigers in route the victory.

Action will start back up tomorrow at 1 PM CST with two games. Centre will take on Trinity from Warrior Field at Hendrix College while Rhodes will square off against Southwestern from Conway High School.

For complete coverage of the 2010 SCAC Softball Tournament please visit the official website. Also for addition media coverage including interview with coaches and players be sure to check out the SCAC Blog.