The Big Red softball closed out their annual spring trip with a 5-3 extra-inning victory over Lewis & Clark on Friday in Tucson, Ariz. In Friday's opener, DU suffered a 10-0 setback to NAIA Dickinson State in five innings.

Despite holding an early 3-0 lead, Denison need eight innings to knock off the Pioneers. With pinch runner Kerry Hager placed as second by way of the international tiebreaker rule, freshman Marlie Mounts led off the eight with a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher that moved Hager 60 feet. Sophomore Ryan Lee would follow with a triple that easily pushed in the go-ahead run. After a ground out to the left side kept Lee at third, senior Emily Lipsitz deposited a single into right that plated the insurance run.

In the bottom of the frame, pinch runner Kelsey Buck was placed on second. Madison Hollenbeck moved buck over to third with a sacrifice to senior Julie Rooney. With one down, freshman Lauren Secaras got Hannah Dal par to also hit a ground ball at Rooney.  Now down to their final out, Ateisha Norton drew a free pass to put the game-tying run on. Norton would then steal second to get into scoring position. However, a third ground ball to Rooney at third would end Lewis & Clark's comeback bid.

Secaras opened the scoring with a two-run double in the first that plated Rooney and freshman Katie Nichols, who was playing in her first game with the Big Red. In the third, Lee delivered a two-out single that scored Lindsey Kenyon from second and gave DU a 3-0 lead.

The Pioneers cut into the deficit with two runs in the third. It remained a one-run game until the bottom of the sixth when a throwing error allowed Stephanie Garcia to score. Each team got a runner on in the seventh, but neither could push that player across the dish.

Rooney, Nichols and Lee all recorded two hits for DU, while Secaras and Lee also had two RBIs. Five of Denison's nine total his were extra-base knocks, including four doubles. Secaras picked up the win in relief after tossing five innings of one-run (unearned), two-hit ball. The freshman also struck out two and walked a pair. Starter Erin Laswell tossed three innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits.

Against Dickinson State, the Blue Hawks scored all 10 of their runs in the first three frames. Only five of those 10 runs were earned, but all were charged to Laswell who took the loss. The sophomore hurler struck out four and gave up 11 hits inside the circle. Denison only mustered two hits off the bats of Kenyon and Lee. Friday's opener also brought an end to Rooney's 18-game hitting streak that started last season. The senior finished the 2014 campaign on a 10-game hitting streak and logged a hit in her first eight games this season. That streak is the third longest in program history.

Denison returns to Ohio with a 6-4 record. The Big Red returns to the field on Tuesday when they host regional-rival Muskingum at 3:30 p.m.