(Story courtesy of Adrian College website)

ADRIAN, Mich. - Sophomore Emily Bichler turned in a dominant performance in the circle for top-seeded DePauw University in the first game of the 2011 Division III Adrian Softball Regional. DePauw cruised to a 6-0 win over D'Youville College, who is making their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Box Score | Official Site

Bichler allowed just one single in the fourth inning and got all the offense she needed in the bottom of the fourth inning as junior Haley Buchanan hit a two-run homer to left center.

It took both teams a little while to get going with a 10:00 am start, but DePauw's bats woke up with big innings in the fourth and fifth. Buchanan smoked a ball over the fence and it also scored senior Emma Minx (Northbrook, Ill.) who hit a two-out double just before Buchanan's 13th long ball of the season.

The Tigers took control of the game in the fifth with four runs on three hits and two Spartan errors. Junior Holly Paris led off the inning with a double to the gap in left center. She was moved up to third on a sacrifice bunt for the first out. Junior Cymone Allen drew a walk and was then caught stealing for the second out. DePauw worked its two-out magic from there as junior Rachel MacBeth laced a ball off the glove of junior pitcher Hannah Norton for an RBI single. Back-to-back miscues by the Spartans allowed two more runs to score. Then it was Minx with her second double of the game, an RBI knock, that scored the sixth and final run for the Tigers.

"We were confident coming into the tournament, but I certainly did not expect a one-hitter," said Bichler. "We did not feel any pressure coming in as the top-seed and just let the game come to us. It was nice to get those first two runs in the fourth. Haley seems to hit home runs twice in a game lately, but that one proved to be enough."

DePauw moves into the winner's bracket and will play the winner of Trine/Ohio Northern at 2:00 pm tomorrow. D'Youville (21-9) will go into the elimination bracket and will play the loser of Trine/Ohio Northern tomorrow at 10:00 am.