One day removed from an 11-3 loss to 16th-ranked Central (Iowa) at the Tucson Invitational Games, the Big Red softball team had a shot a redemption on Monday when they once again took on the nationally-ranked Dutch. Despite falling behind early, Denison rallied to pull off one of the biggest come-from-behind victories in recent program history when they edged No. 16 Central, 8-7, at Lincoln Park in Tucson, Ariz.

Monday afternoon's victory over the Dutch marked DU's first win over a nationally-ranked team since a 3-1 win over then 19th-ranked Wisconsin-La Crosse on March 15, 2011. The win was also the Big Red's second over Central in seven meetings. The first came in the 2010 season opener at the NFCA Division III Leadoff Classic held in Panama City Beach, Fla. On that day, Denison shutout the 20th-ranked Dutch, 3-0.

The Big Red entered Monday's rematch with Central fresh off a heart-breaking one-run loss to Wisconsin-La Crosse earlier in the day. When Denison took the field for their second game of the day, they not only wanted to rebound from the UW-La Crosse loss, but they also wanted to prove they could hang with a top-20 team. Central took advantage of an early fielding miscue with an unearned run in the first.

Denison wasted no time climbing out of an early hole. Senior Julie Rooney opened the bottom of the frame with a double to left center. With one swing of the bat, sophomore catcher Lindsey Kenyon belted her first-career home run, turning a one-run deficit into a one-run advantage. Three batters later, freshman Lauren Secaras, who started the game inside the cirle, helped her own cause with a solo shot to left field. Secaras' second homer of the year gave DU a 3-1 lead after one inning.

The pendulum of moment quickly swung back into Central's favor in the next half inning. The Dutch would take advantage of another error that resulted in five unearned runs. Kaitlyln Matzen plated two with a double to right center, while Karlee Rock's homer drove in three more. The two big strikes from Central were very reminiscent of Sunday's five-inning affair. However, the Big Red successfully controlled the damage and stayed within striking distance.

After a walk and hit by pitch, Denison Head Coach Tiffany Ozbun decided to bring in sophomore Erin Laswell. The first batter Laswell faced lined into a double play to Rooney. The senior third baseman snagged the hot shot and doubled off Abbie Voas at second. The third out of the inning came when Kenyon threw out Sarah Bowen trying to steal second. Laswell went on to pitch 4.1 innings before allowing a hit to the Dutch.

Denison entered the bottom of the fifth inning still trailing by three runs. Freshman Erinn Henry opened the inning with a base hit to left center. Rooney followed with a single through the left side to put runners at first and second. The senior's hit forced the Central coaching staff to make a pitching change. However, the change didn't slow down the DU offense as Kenyon roped a double to left field that plated Henry and put the game-tying run into scoring position. Sophomore Anna Balch followed with a single to left, scoring Rooney and moving Kenyon up 60 feet. In addition to shrinking the margin to one, the RBI-single by Balch also brought an end to Jaelyn Monhollon's day. Central's third pitcher of the game, Annie DeVries, toed the rubber to face freshman Marlie Mounts. Mounts won the battle with a single to the gap in left center that scored Kenyon. DeVries eventually settled down and retired the side with no further damage.

With the score now tied at 6-6, the Big Red felt they had all the momentum heading into the final two frames. Unfortunately, errors continued to be a problem as Denison opened the sixth with another fielding mishap. The Big Red thought they received a bit of good fortune when the home plate umpire ruled that Kallie Schive's bunt struck her outside the batter's box. However, after a conversion with the Central skipper George Wares, the umpire reversed his decision and allowed Schive to continue her at bat. In what could be construed as a bit of karma, Schive ground into a double play to clear the bases. Laswell followed that up by getting Whitney Sowers to fly out to Kerry Hager in left.

Denison came into the bottom of the sixth looking to make it their last trip to the plate. Rooney and Kenyon got things going with back-to-back one-out singles. Once again, a Big Red base hit brought on a Central pitching change. This time the Dutch brought back starter Trisha Smith to try and preserve the tie. For a third time, the pitching change did not stifle the Denison bats as Balch delivered a single that loaded the bases with just one out. Mounts would once again deliver in the clutch with an RBI single to right that scored Rooney. Kenyon would also come around to score a very important run on the play thanks to a misplayed ball in right.

In the top of the seventh, Laswell retired Matzen via pop out to Rooney. The sophomore would then allow her first hit of the game when Rock sent a single through the right side.  After a walk and single loaded the bags, pitch hitter Tabitha Taylor stepped up to the plate and delivered an RBI-single through the left side. With the bases still full, Laswell got Bowen to pop out to Ryan Lee at short for the second out. Still facing a two-out jam, the sophomore hurler struck Abbey Strajack out looking to nail down the victory. Laswell tossed five innings of one-run, three-hit ball out of the pen en route to her first win of the season. She also struck out two and walked two.

The Big Red offense pounded out 14 hits against three Central pitchers on Monday. Rooney and Kenyon led the charge with three hits and three runs each. Kenyon also finished a triple away from the cycle and drove in a team-best three run. Balch, Mounts and Secaras all had two hits apiece. The trio also combined for four RBIs. Inside the circle, Secaras gave up six unearned runs on four hits in two innings.

Rock led the Dutch with two hits, three RBIs and two runs. DeVries suffered the loss after giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits in 1.1 innings. Smith threw 4.2 innings, surrendering five runs on eight hits with four Ks.

Against UW-La Crosse, the Big Red went from trailing 2-1 to leading 4-2 thanks to a three-run third inning. After a leadoff single and walk, Lee stepped to the plate with one out and crushed a three-run home run that scored Mounts and Kenyon. The Eagles ended up tying the game with RBI hits in both the fourth and fifth innings. After a scoreless sixth, UW-La Crosse retook the lead in the seventh when Kerrigan Koch deposited an RBI single into center that scored Erin Maletzke. Denison would get two runners on in the bottom of the inning, but fielder's choice out secured the Eagle win.

Lee and Mckinly Vazquez each went 2-for-4, while Rooney, Kenyon and Secaras registered the other DU hits. Laswell suffered the loss after allowing five runs (four earned) on 11 hits with seven strikeouts and four walks.

Denison (2-2) looks to build off the victory over Central on Tuesday when they take on Crown (4:30 pm EDT) and Marian (6:30 pm EDT) in Tucson, Ariz.