The Denison Big Red split a North Coast Athletic Conference doubleheader with rival Ohio Wesleyan University on Wednesday afternoon from Margaret Sagan Field in Delaware, Ohio. The Big Red knocked off the Bishops 3-1 in the opener, but OWU returned the favor by edging DU in the nightcap, 3-2.
In game one, senior Brie Berkopec (Mars, Pa./Mars Senior) etched her name in the Denison record books with a two-out single to left center in the top of the fourth inning. The base hit extended her current hitting streak to 20 games, and set a new school record which was previously set in 2008 by fellow senior Samantha Rumschlag (Carmel, Ind./Cathedral).
In the bottom of the frame, Ohio Wesleyan attempted to push the game's first tally across the plate, but sophomore center fielder Hannah Price (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) gunned down pinch runner Lauren Elkins at the plate to keep the game scoreless. The Battling Bishops ended up taking a 1-0 lead in the inning on a two-out single up the middle by Devon Walker that scored Kaylie Titus.
The Big Red responded in the fifth when a two-out rally resulted in three DU runs. Sophomore Kait Fiore (Millburn, N.J./Millburn) scored the game-tying run when sophomore Lauren Lynn (Cincinnat, Ohio/Sycamore) reached base via fielding error. After back-to-back singles by senior Emily Croll (Oak Harbor, Ohio/Oak Harbor) and junior Erica Evans (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) loaded the bases for Berkopec, the reigning NCAC Hitter of the Week belted a base hit to right center that plated Lynn and Croll to give Denison a two-run cushion.
Senior Leslie Brenner (Deerfield, Ill./Deerfield) retired the OWU side in the fifth, and surrendered just one hit in the sixth inning. In the bottom of the seventh, the Bishops managed three-consecutive singles to load the bases with just one down. After allowing the three base knocks Brenner was able to regroup and get Tara VanVranken to ground into a fielder's choice that resulted in Krystle Skaziak getting thrown out at home. With the bases still juiced, Brenner got Rita Cook to fly out to right to end the threat.
Brenner improved to 14-6 after allowing one run on nine hits with five strikeouts. Rachel Seibel suffered the loss, allowing three runs on eight hits with three Ks. Berkopec, Evans and Price all logged a pair of hits in the win.
Ohio Wesleyan gained a 1-0 edge in game two when Emily Bradley crossed the dish in the first inning as the DU defense was turning a double play. Denison knotted the game at 1-1 in the fourth when Berkopec scored on an Alex Murray (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/NDCL) double to center field.
In the fifth, two OWU hits coupled with a Big Red throwing error resulted in the Bishops regaining a 3-1 advantage. Denison trimmed the deficit to one (3-2) in the sixth thanks Berkopec's team-leading ninth home run of the season. However, Ohio Wesleyan reliever Lauren McIntire retired the Big Red side in the seventh to record her third save of the season.
Seibel (11-4) picked up the victory in game two, while first-year Jessica Robertson (Mt. Gilead, Ohio/Mt. Gilead) suffered her first loss of the season. The Denison rookie scattered five hits and surrendered three runs (two earned) in six innings of work.
Berkopec went a perfect 3-for-3 with a home run, two runs and an RBI to pace the DU attack. The senior is now riding a program-best 21-game hitting streak. Senior Molly Sack (Toledo, Ohio/Sylvania Southview) went 2-for-3, while Lynn, Murry and Robertson all logged a hit.
Denison moves to 23-13 overall and 7-3 in the NCAC, while Ohio Wesleyan sits at 21-13 and 8-4. The Big Red returns to action on Friday (April 30) when they welcome Hiram College to Granville for a pivotal NCAC doubleheader. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
