Denison entered Sunday's doubleheader with Hiram College aware of the mission.  Win its four remaining games and advance to the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament.  Lose just one of those four?  Season over.

On Sunday in Hiram, the Big Red accomplished part one of its quest for the postseason by sweeping the Terriers, 9-1 and 16-6.  This sets up a two-game showdown with Ohio Wesleyan on Monday, April 27 at 3:30 p.m. in Granville for the right to the No. 4 seed in next weekend's conference tournament.

In game one, Denison broke a 1-1 tie with three runs in the fourth inning.  Erin Laswell started things off with an RBI double to right-center, scoring starting pitcher Lauren Secaras.  Marlie Mounts would follow with a single to left that scored Laswell.  Anna Balch would plate the third run with a base hit up the middle, scoring Ryan Lee.

In the sixth, senior first baseman Emily Lipsitz drove in Mounts with a two-out single up the middle after Mounts reached base on an error earlier in the inning.

The Big Red would tack on four more runs thanks to another Laswell RBI single and a three-run double to the wall in center by Balch, setting the final at 9-1.

Balch finished the game 2-for-4 with a career-high four RBIs.  Secaras improved to 9-6 on the year by earning a complete game victory.  She struck out six, walked three and allowed only four hits and one run.

In game two, the Big Red would break another tie with a big inning.  This time DU and Hiram found themselves deadlocked 4-4, until senior Julie Rooney came through with a clutch 3-run home run to center, scoring Lipsitz and Balch in the top of the fourth.

In the bottom of the third inning, first-year Sarah Herold came in to relieve game two starter, Laswell.  That marked the first appearance in the pitching circle for Herold since the Big Red's spring break trip to Arizona in March.  Herold worked out of a jam in the third and would allow two runs off six hits while pitching the final 4.1 innings. 

Since Denison's five-run fourth inning gave them the lead for good, Herold was credited with the victory.

Game one starter, Secaras, was 4-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored as the designated player in game two.  Just days after becoming the Denison's all-time hits leader, Rooney went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and four runs scored.  Lee was 3-for-4 with four RBIs and Lipsitz finished 2-for-2 with one RBI and three runs scored.

Hiram's Brittany Zajac took the loss, dropping to 3-9 on the season.  They were led offensively by Miranda Wright and Danielle Latine who each were 3-for-4.

Denison's record improves to 17-17 and 8-6 in the NCAC while Hiram falls to 8-22 and 4-10 in conference play.

Don't miss tomorrow's doubleheader with Ohio Wesleyan that is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. in Granville.  The Denison Sports Network will provide live audio, video and live stats for both games.