The Denison University softball team opened the 2010 season with a 3-0 victory over 20th-ranked Central College on Friday at the 2010 Division III National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic held at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach, Fla.

Pitcher Samantha Rumschlag (Carmel, Ind./Cathedral) started her senior season on the right foot by recording her fifth-career complete-game shutout.  Rumschlag scattered just three hits, struck out four batters and walked one in seven innings of work.  With her performance, the senior became just the second player in program history to record a complete-game shutout on opening day (Robin Shesky, 2001).

The Big Red broke the scoreless tie with two runs in the bottom half of the third.  First-year outfielder Jessica Robertson (Mt Gilead, Ohio/Mt. Gilead) reached on a fielding error to open the frame.  With one out, sophomore Hannah Price (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) dropped a single into right center that moved Robertson to third base.  The rookie scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch by Dutch reliever Katie Tenboer.  After moving to third on the errant toss, Price crossed the plate on an RBI ground out by senior Emily Croll (Oak Harbor, Ohio/Oak Harbor) to add to the DU advantage.

Denison tacked on a second insurance run in the sixth on an RBI single by junior Erica Evans (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) which scored Croll from second base.

DU improves to 1-0 on the year while Central falls to 2-2.  The Big Red returns to action tonight when they take on No. 11 Christopher Newport at 6:30 p.m.