What seemed like a long shot seven days ago has become a reality.  Denison University will advance to the North Coast Athletic Conference Softball Tournament following a doubleheader sweep of Ohio Wesleyan on Monday afternoon.  The Big Red won game one 12-4 in five innings. They would go on to post a 10-0 win in game two via the run-rule in five innings.

Denison's regular season comes to an end with a 19-17 record.  Their 10-6 record in conference play will set up a clash in Friday's NCAC Tournament first round with top-seeded DePauw in Greencastle.

The Big Red entered last Wednesday's doubleheader with Wooster needing to win its final six conference games to qualify.  All Denison did was outscore their opponents 69-22 during that six-game stretch.

In the first game of the twinbill, Denison jumped all over the Battling Bishops with a seven run first inning.  Ryan Lee provided the first run with a single to left, scoring Sarah Herold.  Mckinly Vazquez stroked a two-run double to right, scoring Kerry Hager and Lauren Secaras.  After a walk to Marlie Mounts, Anna Balch would smash a grand slam over the wall in right field, putting DU on top 7-0.  It marked the second career home run for Balch and the first grand slam of her career. It also marked the first grand slam by a Denison player since Megan Edwards on April 6, 2013.

In the top of the fourth, Ohio Wesleyan would score four runs.  After Taylor Dickson scored on a passed ball, Taylor Day hit a 3-run home run to right-center, getting the Battling Bishops back into the game at 7-4.

In the bottom half of the inning, Denison would strike back with two runs via an RBI double by Hager and a run scoring single to left by Secaras.

Three runs in the fifth inning would set the final at 12-4.  Secaras pitched all five innings and got the win, improving to 10-6 on the year.  The loss went to Sarah Flint who started and recorded only one out before being lifted after allowing the grand slam to Balch.

DU pounded out 16 hits led by Secaras' 4-for-4 showing at the plate.  Hager was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Emily Lipsitz was 3-for-3 with one run scored.

Game two also started strong for Denison as they would score a pair in the first and four in the second to take a commanding 6-0 lead.  DU's two-run first inning would come via a sacrifice fly by Secaras that scored Julie Rooney.  Lee would follow with an RBI single to left, plating Hager.

In the second, Herold would come to the plate with the bases full and only one out.  The freshman blasted a shot to wall in left center, clearing the bases.  After a pitching change for OWU, Hager would single to center, scoring Herold.

Four more runs would cross the dish in the fourth, giving Denison the run differential needed to end the game after OWU's at-bat in the fifth.  Secaras, who pitched all 10 innings on the day, would retire the Bishops in order in the fifth, punching Denison's ticket to Greencastle, Ind. later this week.

Hager paced Denison in game two, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI.  Lee was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Rooney finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored.  Secaras moves to 11-6 with the win while Bianca Sibilly took the loss after pitching the first 1.1 innings.

Ohio Wesleyan's season comes to an end with a record of 15-21 overall and 4-12 in the NCAC.  Check back to DenisonBigRed.com later in the week for complete details regarding the 2015 NCAC Tournament.

NOTE: In between Monday's doubleheader Denison recognized senior members Julie Rooney, Ellen McDevitt-Stredney and Emily Lipsitz on their softball careers at DU. The trio has won 86 games and has captured one NCAC Tournament championship in 2012.