Emory University senior Paul Schwendel struck out 11 batters and pitched his third complete game of the season, but came out on the short end of the game, as the Eagles fell 2-0 to DePauw University in their opening game of the NCAA Central Regional in Millington, Tennessee.

Schwendel allowed just two runs, only one of which was earned, on five hits and one walk.  DePauw was able to break through against him for their first run in the fourth inning, as Jason Cohen hit a one out double, and Alex Wright followed with an RBI single.

Emory has its best opportunity of the day in the top of the fifth, when Ryan Toscano doubled with one out, followed by a Mark Lindemann walk to put runners at first and second.  The next batter, Brett Lake hit a ball to the left side, but the shortstop was unable to throw Toscano out at third, loading the bases.  However, DePauw starter Elliott Ross struck out Brandon Hannon and got Jared Welch to line out to deep left center field to end the inning.

The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the eighth, when the Tigers scored an unearned run off Schwendel with two outs.  In the top of the ninth, Jay Page led off with a base hit, and Toscano reached on a two-out error, but Lindemann grounded out to end the game.

Ross pitched the complete game shutout for DePauw striking out nine batters and allowing just four hits and three walks.  He improved to 9-1 on the season, while Schwendel took the loss, falling to 6-4.

Schwendel also became just the sixth pitcher in Emory history to record 100 or more strikeouts in a single season, surpassing the century mark with his eighth strikeout of the game.  He finished the contest with 103 strikeouts for the season, the fifth-most in the program's history.

Emory, seeded fourth in the regional, currently stands at 26-13 on the season, while third-seeded DePauw improved to 34-12.

The Eagles will try to stay alive in the tournament tomorrow afternoon, as the squad will face off against top-seeded Birmingham-Southern College (36-7) at 4:30 PM ET.  Emory is 2-0 this against the Panthers this season.