Senior Connor Murphy fired a complete game, 3-hit shutout to power the Big Red to an 8-0 win over Wittenberg in the opener of Sunday's doubleheader from Carleton Davidson Stadium in Springfield, Ohio.  In game two, Wittenberg would prevail with a 7-5 victory.

Denison took advantage of five Tiger errors and thanks to a five run second inning, the Big Red jumped out in front, 7-0 heading into the third.

An RBI single by Ryan Loehnert, and a bases loaded walk by Nick Marsit put DU on top 2-0 in the first.  In the second inning, things got off to a rocky start for the Tigers as Tucker Davison reached on a throwing error.  After a walk by Conner Madey, Georgie Montes advanced all the way to second base after a bad throw to first base on a bunt attempt.  That play scored Davison and gave Denison a 3-0 lead.

Charlie Apfelbach would reach after being hit by a pitch, and Loehnert would drive in Madey on a fielder's choice that cut down Apfelbach at second.  With runners on the corners, Loehnert would steal second, forcing the Tigers to intentionally walk Ryan Mulligan.  Senior Andrew Touhy would come through with a base hit through the left side of the infield that scored Montes.  On the play, the Wittenberg left fielder misplayed the ball and that allowed Loehnert to come home.  The final run of the inning would come via a Brandon Morgan sacrifice fly to center that plated Mulligan. 

When the dust settled, Denison managed to score five runs in the second off only two hits and they left the bases loaded.

With Murphy locked in, that would be all the offense Denison would need in the opener, as he threw 92 pitches with 60 going for strikes.  He walked only two and struck out one to improve to 3-2 on the year.  Murphy also lowered his season ERA to 3.71.

In game two, it was Wittenberg that struck first, scoring four runs in the first inning powered by a two-run double by Tyler Grau.  Leading 5-1 after two innings, the Tigers would hold off the Big Red for a 7-5 win.

Denison managed six hits in the nightcap with Montes going 2-for-4.  Ian Barry took the loss on the mound.  He pitched six innings, allowing five earned runs while striking out six. 

The Big Red will close out its four-game series at Wittenberg on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.