After giving up two runs in the first, the University of St. Thomas scored 10 unanswered tallies as the Tommies defeated the Denison Big Red 10-2 in the final game of round robin play at the Division III National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic in Panama City Beach, Fla.

Denison jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first on a one-out single by senior Alex Murray (Mayfield Hts., Ohio/NDCL).  With the bases loaded, Murray dropped a single that scored Kait Fiore (Millburn, N.J./Millburn) and Erica Evans (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington).

St. Thomas answered with single runs in the second, third and fourth innings to take their first lead of the game, 3-2.  The Tommies tacked on two insurance runs in the sixth inning on a two-out two-run home run by Meghan Noskowiak. In the seventh frame, St. Thomas added five runs on six hits to put the game out of reach.

Murray finished 3-for-3 with two RBIs, while Evans and Brie Berkopec (Mars, Pa./Mars Senior) each recorded a pair of singles.  Senior pitcher Samantha Rumschlag (Carmel, Ind./Cathedral) gave up 10 runs on 15 hits with five strikeouts in seven innings of work.

The Big Red falls to 1-2 on the 2010 season.  DU will open play in the Bronze Championship Bracket of the NFCA Leadoff Classic against Methodist on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.