The Denison softball team dropped a pair to Marietta College on a cold Sunday in Granville. The Pioneers took the opener 10-2 and held on for a 6-4 win in game two.

In game one, Marietta took advantage of six Big Red errors en route to the eight-run victory. The Pioneers scored in five of the seven innings, highlighted by a five-run fifth that was aided by two of those six miscues.

Down 9-1, Denison avoided a five-inning loss with a single run in the bottom of the frame. Kerry Hager led off the fifth with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Erinn Henry. After moving up another 60 feet on a ground out to the right side, Hager finally came around to score on a base hit by senior Emily Lipsitz that landed behind first baseman Courtney Kerwood. Marietta added a run in the seventh to complete the 10-2 victory.

Freshman Lauren Secaras suffered her first loss of the season after surrendering seven runs (five earned) on eight hits with five walks and four strikeouts in 4.1 innings. Sophomore Erin Laswell scattered four hits and allowed three unearned runs over the final 2.2 innings.

In the nightcap, the Big Red surrendered the first six runs of the game before getting on the board. Trailing 6-0 in the bottom of the fifth, Secaras knocked in DU's first run with a sacrifice fly to right that scored senior Julie Rooney from third.

Denison continued to shrink the deficit in the sixth thanks to a trio of hits and a misplayed ball by the Pioneers. Lipsitz got things going when she was struck by a pitch with one out. Hager followed with a single through the left side that was aided by a fielding error. The miscue allowed Lipsitz to reach third and Hager to move up to second on the play. Rooney knocked in classmate Lipsitz with another base hit, while a ground ball by freshman Katie Nichols allowed Hager to score from third. With two outs, sophomore Lindsey Kenyon roped a triple to right center that score Nichols and brought the game-tying run to the plate. After the extra-base hit, Marietta made a pitching change which proved to be worthwhile as Kristina LaRocca induced a pop out to first for the final out. LaRocca retired the side in order in the seventh to secure her first save of the year.

Rooney went 4-for-7 on Sunday, including a perfect 3-for-3 in game two. Lipsitz also had two hits, two runs and an RBI during the twinbill, while freshman Marlie Mounts logged a pair of hits. Laswell suffered the loss in game two after giving up six runs (five earned) on nine hits with two strikeouts and a walk in seven innings.

Denison falls to 7-7, while Marietta improves to 8-10. The Big Red will open North Coast Athletic Conference play on Tuesday when they travel to Greencastle, Ind. for a doubleheader against DePauw University. Game one is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.