The Denison University softball team extended their current winning streak to five games following a doubleheader sweep of Muskingum University on Friday evening in Granville, Ohio.  The Big Red rallied to take game one 13-12 and edged the Muskies in game two, 4-2.

March 29, 2001 marked the last time DU took a pair from Muskingum.  Just like the twinbill sweep on Friday, the Big Red recorded one and two-run wins (2-1, 6-4) almost 10 years ago in Granville.

The opener looked bleak early on as Muskingum jumped out to a 9-1 lead through three and a half innings.  The Denison offense showed signs of life in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a pair RBI singles by first-year Meghan Edwards and junior Lauren Lynn.  Edwards laced a base hit through the left side that scored junior Hannah Price, while Lynn's single to center plated sophomore Jessica Robertson and rookie Rachel Laughlin.

After holding the Muskies scoreless in the fifth, Robertson crushed a three-run home run down the left field line.  The sophomore's second homer of the season came with one out and trimmed the deficit to two.  MU used a two-out rally in the sixth to extended their lead to 12-7.  However, the Big Red answered in the bottom of the frame with four runs to cut the margin to 12-11.  After loading the bases with no outs, Price drove in the first run of the inning after reaching on a fielding error by the second baseman.  Laughlin hit an infield single to third for the second tally, while Robertson drew a base-on-balls for the third.  The final score came on a Edwards ground out to second.

In the top of the seventh, rookie pitcher Rebecca Dyer retired the side in order to set up DU's dramatic come-from-behind win.  Down to their final out of the game, Dyer got things going with a single through the left side.  After a throwing error by the short stop extended the inning, Price came through with a clutch RBI single up the middle that plated Dyer from second.  After a Laughlin walk loaded the bases with two outs, Robertson dropped a base hit into right center that scored Evans.

Robertson finished the game a perfect 4-for-4 with a home run, five RBIs and two runs scored, while Dyer went 3-for-5 with two runs.  Laughlin had a home run, two RBIs and three runs, while Lynn, Price and Edwards all drove in two.  Dyer picked up her fourth victory of the season after giving up 12 runs (10 earned) on nine hits with three strikeouts.

Game two started out as an old-fashioned pitchers' duel.  Over the first three innings, DU starter Kelsey Hager and Muskingum pitcher Morgan Yackey allowed a combined one hit, walked four (two each) and left three runners on base.  The Muskies broke up the string of scoreless frames in the top of the fourth with an RBI single by Ashley Price.

Laughlin opened the bottom of the inning with a double to the gap in right center.  Senior Erica Evans quickly gave Denison a one-run lead with a towering home run to left center field.  Edwards and Robertson logged a one-out single and double, respectively, to put runners in scoring position.  With two down, Edwards crossed the dish after first-year Heather Larsen reached on a throwing error.  Lynn made MU pay for the miscue with an RBI single to center that scored Robertson.

Muskingum threatened in the sixth when a one-out walk to Price loaded the bases.  The two head coaches each made a change as Denison' Tiffany Ozbun handed the ball to Dyer, while Muskingum skipper Kari Hoying put in pinch hitter Jessie Little.  The Muskie pinch hitter worked a one-out walk to trim the deficit to 4-2, but the rookie reliever responded with back-to-back strikeouts to escape the threat.

Kristyn Heagen and Chelsea Kaunert logged back-to-back one-out singles to keep Muskingum's hopes alive in the seventh.  Evans gunned down Hagen at third on a 6-5 fielder's choice for the second out of the frame.  Dyer closed the door on the Muskies with a strikeout to end the game.

Edwards and Robertson each had two hits, a double and a run, while Evans hit her second homer of the season and drove in a pair.  Hager improved to 5-0 after giving up two runs, scattering three hits and striking out two in 5.1 innings.  Dyer surrendered two hits and struck out three in 1.2 innings of work en route to her second save of the year.

Denison improves to 10-2, while the Muskies fall to 5-10.  DU returns to action on Tuesday (March 29) when they host John Carroll University.  First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.