Denison split its home opener with John Carroll on Thursday afternoon in Granville, Ohio.  The Big Red dropped game one, 2-1, before winning the night cap, 6-5.

Denison jumped out to a 2-0 lead in game two thanks to singles runs in both the first and second innings.  Junior Gretchen Staubach drew a bases loaded walk in the first, while a fielding error by John Carroll allowed senior Kelly Cunningham to score from third base.

DU added to its lead in the fifth thanks to a three-run, three-hit performance.   With the bases loaded and one out, freshman Grace Finkbiner laced a single up the middle that scored junior Rachel Laughlin and Meghan Edwards.  Senior Rosie Glaser drove in Staubach with a two-out base hit up the middle.

The Blue Streaks rallied to tie the game in the top of the sixth behind four hits and a Big Red fielding error.  Michaela Mackey got things going with a two-run single up the middle, while a pair of singles down the left field line made it a one-run game.  The game-tying run scored on the Denison miscue.

The Big Red quickly answered in the bottom of the frame.  Edwards dropped a one-out single into short center, while Laughlin belted a double to deep center that put the go-ahead run at third.  With only one out, senior Jess Robertson, the reigning North Coast Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week, stepped into the batter's box.  Robertson took the first pitch she saw and roped a base hit to left that easily scored Edwards.

In the seventh, John Carroll got the leadoff hitter on base via fielding error.  The game-tying run made it all the way to third on a sacrifice bunt and a ground out to the pitcher.  With two down, Denison's Kelsey Hager got Sam Becker to fly out to right to end the game.

Hager, the reigning NCAC Pitcher of the Week, improved to 4-2 on the year after surrendering five runs (four earned) on 10 hits with two strikeouts.  Edwards, Laughlin and Glaser all recorded two hits, while Finkbiner drove in two runs.

In the opener, Laughlin put Denison in front with a double to right center that plated Edwards.  However, JCU tied the game in the fourth when Lia Locey knocked in Morgan Robinson on a sacrifice fly to center.  The Blue Streaks broke the tie in the sixth on a base hit through the left side that scored Christie Wade.

Rebecca Dyer (4-2) suffered the loss after allowing two runs on three hits with six Ks.  Edwards, Laughlin and Robertson recorded the three hits for DU.

Denison moves to 8-4, while John Carroll is now 10-4 on the year.  The Big Red opens conference play on Saturday when they host Allegheny College.  Game one is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.