The Denison softball team picked up its first two North Coast Athletic Conference victories of the 2012 season following a doubleheader sweep at Oberlin.  DU rallied for a 10-7 win in the opener and shut out the Yeowomen 5-0 in game two.

The Big Red offense struggled to find its rhythm in game one, mustering just three hits in the opening four frames.  On the flip side, Oberlin took a 5-0 lead after scoring three times in the first and adding a single run in the third and fourth innings.

With two outs in the fifth, a ground ball by Julie Rooney and a walk issued to Kait Fiore loaded the bases.  Senior Hannah Price put DU on the board with a two-run single to center that scored Emily Lipsitz and Rooney.  Sophomore Rachel Laughlin followed with a base hit that knocked in Fiore and Price to shrink the deficit to one.

In the sixth, singles by sophomore Meghan Edwards, junior Jess Robertson and Lipsitz loaded the bases with no outs.  Following a pitching change by the Yeowoman, sophomore Gretchen Staubach put Denison in front with a single to center that drove in Edwards and Robertson.  Heather Larsen tacked on an insurance run with a sacrifice fly that scored Lipsitz.  Oberlin answered in the bottom of the frame with a pair of runs that tied the game.

The Big Red regained the lead in the seventh when a double to right center by Laughlin plated Price from first.  Denison added two insurance runs thanks to RBI singles from Robertson and Staubach.  In the bottom of the frame, sophomore pitcher Kelsey Hager retired the side in order to secure the come-from-behind victory.  Hager struck out a career-high tying 10 batters en route to her fifth win of the season.

In the nightcap, a pair of home runs by Robertson and a pitching gem from Laughlin secured the doubleheader sweep.  The junior's first two-run shot came with two outs in the fourth inning.  After an infield single by Fiore scored Rosie Glaser in the fifth, Robertson belted another two-run homer.  The long ball was her third of the season, and the seventh of her career.

In addition to DU's offense, Laughlin put together her best performance of the season inside the circle.  The sophomore scattered a season-low four hits and struck out four en route to her first-career shutout.  With the win, Laughlin improves to 7-4 on the year.

On the day, Robertson went 5-for-7 with two home runs, a double, five RBIs and three runs scored, while Price was 4-for-7, scored three times and drove in two more.  Laughlin also went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs in game one.

Denison improves to 12-10 overall and 2-2 in the NCAC, while Oberlin falls to 8-14 and 0-4 in league play.  The Big Red returns to action on Wednesday when they host Marietta College.  Game one of the twinbill is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.