It took two championship games, but the Denison softball team won its sixth North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament crown and secured its sixth berth to the NCAA Championship Tournament on Sunday afternoon in Meadville, Pa.  The Big Red knocked off DePauw 1-0 in the seventh game of the NCAC Tournament.

Deadlocked in a scoreless tie heading into extra innings, DePauw starter Kahla Nolan toed the rubber for her eighth inning of work.  Nolan appeared in control after inducing a pop out and a strikeout for the first two outs of the frame.  With two down, the Big Red turned to sophomore right fielder Heather Larsen to spark a two-out rally.  The second-year outfielder didn't disappoint as she sent the first pitch from Nolan over the wall in left center field for her first-career home run.  Larsen's homer put Denison three outs away from winning the title.

As exciting as the go-ahead home run was, the game-winning hit was setup by a masterful performance by sophomore pitcher Kelsey Hager and the Big Red defense.  Over the course of the game, Hager retired the side in order four times, and did not allow a hit in six innings.

With the one-run lead in hand, Hager took the circle three outs away from her 12th win of the season.  DePauw led off the bottom of the eighth with a double down the line by Jamie Story.  Hager was unfazed by the extra-base hit as she struck out Rachel MacBeth for the first out of the inning.

The sophomore hurler got some help from her defense as third baseman Julie Rooney secured the second out in foul territory.  With two down and the game-tying run in scoring position, the Tiger's tournament life rested on the shoulders of Jen Kosinski.  It appeared that the DePauw shortstop tied the game with a shot to right center, but a running over-the-should grab by senior captain Hannah Price secured the win and punched Denison's ticket to the 2012 NCAA Regional Tournament.

In the win, Hager (pictured hugging Robertson) scattered three hits and fanned seven batters.  Additionally, the sophomore didn't allow a Tiger base runner to advance past second base.  The Big Red offense pounded out nine hits on Nolan, including a 3-for-3 performance from senior Kait Fiore.  Rachel Laughlin and Larsen each logged two hits, while Meghan Edwards and Emily Lipsitz each had a base knock.

In the first game of the day, the Big Red took the early lead after plating a pair in the first frame.  After a sacrifice bunt by Rooney moved Price to second, Laughlin roped an 0-1 pitch into left center that scored the senior from second.  With runners at first and second, junior Jess Robertson sent a base hit through the left side that plated Laughlin and put DU in front 2-0.

Denison carried a 2-0 lead until the Tigers struck for three runs on five hits and a pair of DU errors in the fifth frame.  With runners on the corners in the sixth, Price laced a single through the right side to drive in Gretchen Staubach.  After a double steal moved Fiore and Price into scoring position, Rooney knocked in Fiore on a sacrifice fly to left.

Despite regaining the lead in the sixth, an error and a base hit allowed the Tigers to put the go-ahead run on first.  With two on and one out, Kosinski hit a home run to right center to put DePauw up 6-4.  In the bottom of the frame, Robertson reached on a one-out base hit, but a foul out and a strikeout by hurler Emily Bichler forced a second championship game.

Price, Rooney and Robertson all logged two hits to pace the offense.  Despite a strong performance inside the circle, sophomore Becca Dyer suffered the loss in game one.

At the completion of the 2012 NCAC Championship Tournament, Dyer, Edwards, Larsen and Price were named to the NCAC All-Tournament team.  In addition, Price was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

Denison improves to 27-17 and will advance to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in the last three years.  The selection show is scheduled to air on NCAA.com at 10:20 a.m. on Monday (May 7).

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