The Denison softball team split a pair with Allegheny College on Saturday afternoon from the Robertson Complex in Meadville, Pa. The Big Red won a 15-9 slugfest in game one, but dropped the second game to the Gators, 4-2.
Down 3-2, Denison hung four runs in the third to regain a 6-3 edge. The Big Red scored their first run via RBI walk to sophomore Hannah Price (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson). The other three tallies in the frame came on a three-run double by Kait Fiore (Millburn, N.J./Millburn). Fiore's double scored Price and seniors Alex Murray (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/NDCL) and Brie Berkopec (Mars, Pa./Mars Senior).
Allegheny plated two in the third to trim the deficit to 6-5. However, DU erupted for five more runs in the fourth inning to expand their lead. First-year Jessica Robertson (Mt. Gilead, Ohio/Mt. Gilead) logged an RBI double, while senior Molly Sack (Toledo, Ohio/Sylvania Southview) drove in a run on a base hit. Fiore came up with another clutch hit in the inning when she scored Sack and Price with a triple.
Once again the Gators answered with a four-run bottom of the fourth to shrink the margin to 11-9. DU locked up the victory with three runs in the fifth and another in the sixth.
Rookie Nikki McCoy (Ney, Ohio/Fairview) tossed the final four innings, surrendering just one run on four hits en route to her fifth victory of the year. Senior Leslie Brenner (Deerfield, Ill./Deerfield) got the start and allowed eight runs on 11 hits in three innings of work.
Offensively, Robertson went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and an RBI, while Fiore finished 2-for-3 with a game-high five RBIs and a run scored. Senior Emily Croll (Oak Harbor, Ohio/Oak Harbor), junior Erica Evans (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) and Berkopec all finished with two hits. Evans logged a home run, and four runs scored, while Berkopec and Croll each had an RBI and a run.
In the second game, Allegheny broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run fourth frame. In the fourth, the Gators recorded three one-run doubles. Denison plated a run on an RBI single by Price with two outs in the seventh. The Big Red had a chance to tie the game with the bases loaded and two outs, but Allegheny pitcher Amanda Downey got Lauren Lynn (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) to ground out to second baseman Katie Wills to end the game.
Brenner took the loss after giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits in four innings. Berkopec and Price both with 2-for-4 with an RBI in the nightcap.
Denison (15-11, 3-1 NCAC) returns to the field on Tuesday (April 13) when they travel to Defiance College. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
