The Denison University softball team outhit Washington and Jefferson 22-10 and outscored the Presidents 23-1 en route to a doubleheader sweep on Thursday afternoon in Granville. The Big Red won the first game 12-0 in five innings, and completed the twinbill sweep with an 11-1 victory in the nightcap.
In game one, Denison jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run home run by junior shortstop Erica Evans (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington). The Big Red's five-run second was highlighted by a two-RBI single from Evans that scored senior Emily Croll (Oak Harbor, Ohio/Oak Harbor) and sophomore Kait Fiore (Millburn, N.J./Millburn). After a double by Sophia Iglesias (McClean, Va./McClean) drove in Hannah Price (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) in the third inning, DU erupted for four more tallies in the fourth to go up 12-0.
Senior pitcher Leslie Brenner (Deerfield, Ill./Deerfield) improved to 5-3 on the year after tossing her second shutout of the season. The senior scattered six hits and struck out three in five innings of work.
In the second game, Denison expanded on a 2-1 edge by scoring nine runs in the third inning. DU opened the frame with four-straight hits off the bats of sophomore Lauren Lynn (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore), Evans, Brie Berkopec (Mars, Pa./Mars Senior) and Alex Murray (Mayfield Hts., Ohio/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin), who cleared the bases with with a two-RBI triple. Senior Molly Sack (Toledo, Ohio/Sylvania Southview) also drove in a run on a double to left center, while Evans knocked in a pair on a base hit in her second at-bat of the frame.
First-year hurler Nikki McCoy (Ney, Ohio/Fairview) moved to 3-1 on the season after giving up one unearned run on four hits in five innings. The freshman also fanned four batters and walked a pair.
Offensively, Evans finished the day a perfect 4-for-4 with a home run, six RBIs and six runs scored, while Berkopec went 5-for-6 with two doubles, four RBIs and three runs. Murray and rookie Jessica Robertson (Mt. Gilead, Ohio/Mt. Gilead) both went 3-for-6 on the afternoon. Murray recorded a triple, a double, three RBIs and two runs, while Robertson logged a double, drove in two and scored once.
Denison improves to 10-8 on the year, while the Presidents fall to 5-9 overall. The Big Red returns to action on Saturday (April 3) when they travel to Cincinnati, Ohio to take on the College of Mount St. Joseph. Game one of the doubleheader is slated to begin at 1 p.m.
