Alex Murray (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/NDCL) smashed a 3-run home run over the wall in left field with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, sending Denison to an improbable 13-12 victory over John Carroll. The come-from-behind win completed a doubleheader sweep of the Blue Streaks after DU prevailed in game one, 2-0.
The night-cap saw five lead changes, 32 hits and an amazing 25 runs scored which was the most total runs in a game that involved the Big Red since the 1997 season when DU and Marietta combined for 27 runs.
John Carroll had the game's first big inning when they plated six runs in the top of the fourth inning. Four of those runs crossed the plate after Michelle Murphy cleared the bases with a grand slam to left center. Later in the inning, Laura Boselovic would single to the gap in left field, scoring Angela Vistocco and Ollie Matthews.
DU would score one run in both the fourth and fifth innings to get within two at 7-5. In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Big Red roared back with five runs off only two hits. The Blue streaks committed two errors in the inning, threw two wild pitches, hit one batter and walked one. The combination of miscues and a two-run double by Emily Croll (Oak Harbor, Ohio/Oak Harbor) led to a 10-7 lead for the home team heading to the top of the seventh.
Senior pitcher Sam Rumschlag (Carmel, Ind./Cathedral) got the start for Denison and she pitched the first three innings before being relieved by first-year Nikki McCoy (Ney, Ohio/Fairview). Rumschlag, who never technically left the contest by moving to designated player, was available to re-enter at pitcher for DU in the top of the seventh.
After JCU scored three runs to tie the game at 10-10 off McCoy, Rumschlag would surrender a pair of hits to Matthews and Vistocco which gave the visitors a 12-10 lead heading to Denison's final at-bat.
Just as they had in the sixth inning, the Big Red wasted little time getting a rally started as Lauren Lynn (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) and Jessica Robertson (Mount Gilead, Ohio/Mount Gilead) led off the inning with base hits. Brittany Danilov would get Erica Evans (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) to foul out to the first baseman and they would cut down Lynn at third base after forcing the dangerous Brie Berkopec (Mars, Pa./Mars Senior) into a fielders choice.
That set the stage for Murray who sent Danilov's 2-1 offering sailing over the fence in left field. The home run was Murray's second of the season and the 12th of her career. For the game, she was 4-for-4 with two runs scored and five RBIs. Berkopec also had a big game at the plate, going 3-for-5 with one RBI and three runs scored.
Rumschlag earned the victory in relief to improve to 2-4 on the season. Danilov was saddled with the loss, dropping her record to 4-5.
In the opening game, DU scored one run in the third inning off an RBI single by Evans. In the sixth, Murray would add an insurance run after blasting a double to the fence in center field that scored pinch runner, Rosie Glaser (Chicago, Ill./Jones College Prep).
Denison starter Leslie Brenner (Deerfield, Ill./Deerfield) turned in her finest performance of the young season by going all seven innings and scattering just six hits. Brenner walked two and struck out three while improving to 3-2 on the year. Brenner also dropped her ERA to a team-low 1.06 with her shutout.
Lynn and Evans both had two hits in game one for the Big Red.
The Big Red improve to 6-6 with the two wins while John Carroll drops to 7-7 overall. Denison will return to action this Saturday (March 27) when they host Case Western Reserve in a doubleheader that is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
