SCAC Baseball Tournament - DePauw vs. Austin College

The game of the night during the first day of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament was the nightcap between the DePauw University Tigers and the Austin College Kangaroos. After two slugfests preceded the game, DePauw and Austin College played a classic pitchers duel with the Tigers hanging on for a 3-2 win at USA Stadium.

DePauw, the East's #1 seed, scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the first inning and survived a furious Austin College rally in the top of the ninth. The #3 West seeded Kangaroos had runners on first and second with two outs in the top of the ninth when a wild pitch advanced Scooter Merritt and Jamie Garcia to second and third respectively. That was as close as the 'Roos got as Andy White flew out to center field to end the game.

Tigers starting pitcher Brad Gerlach tossed wonderful 7.1 innings, scattering eight hits while yielding two earned runs and striking out seven. Any Manson relieved Gerlach to pick up the last two outs in the eighth before freshman T.J. Witham closed the door in the ninth for the save. Gerlach improved to 3-2 on the year.

Kanaroo starting pitcher Tyler Steed was the tough luck losing pitcher. He pitched a solid eight innings scattering six hits, three earned runs and struck out four. He dropped to 5-6 this season.

DePauw got on the board thanks to a Jon Newman two-out RBI single. The next batter, Alex Wright, then doubled to right center scoring Newman and Rob McPike.

Austin College got on the board in the fourth. After Jordon Robison doubled to right center he was sacrificed to third. Robison then scored on Bennett Herrick's single to center field. The 'Roos then cut the lead in half in the top of the eighth when Tyler Appelquist doubled home Andy White.

DePauw will play Millsaps at 7 p.m. Friday while Austin College will take on West Division rival Trinity at 3:30 p.m. Friday.

After the game Jeff Debaldo of the SCAC caught up with both managers.

To listen to Austin College head coach Carl Iwasaki, click here.

To listen to DePauw head coach Jake Martin, click here.