The Big Red dropped a pair of non-conference games to Case Western Reserve on Monday in Cleveland, Ohio. The Spartans took the opener 4-2 and won game two 11-4.

In game one, the Spartans scored three runs in the second and another in the third to build an early 4-0 lead. The Big Red went scoreless until the fifth when senior Julie Rooney roped a double to left that scored senior Emily Lipsitz and freshman Erinn Henry. Unfortunately, that was all the offense Denison could muster as they suffered a two-run setback in the opener.

Lipsitz and freshman Mckinly Vazquez led Denison with two hits each, while Rooney drove in DU's only runs of the game. Rooney, Marlie Mounts and Lauren Secaras had the other three hits for the Big Red. Secaras took the loss inside the circle after giving up four runs on seven hits in six innings. The freshman also issued six free passes and struck out two.

Molly O'Brien led Case with two RBIs, while Katie Wede and Rebecca Taylor each had a pair of hits. Annie Wennerberg picked up her ninth win of the year after allowing two runs on six hits with five Ks in 4.2 innings.

In the nightcap, Case Western erased an early two-run deficit with six-unanswered runs to take a 6-2 lead. The Big Red shrunk the margin with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Sophomore Erin Laswell and Lipsitz both came around to score on wild pitches by starter Rebecca Molnar. However, two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth were all the Spartans needed to get the win.

Laswell finished 2-for-2 at the plate with one run scored, while Rooney had a hit, drew two walks, scored a run and drove in another. Sophomore Ryan Lee led the team with two doubles, while Vazquez and Lipsitz scored the other two runs for Denison. Laswell suffered the loss after surrendering 10 runs (six earned) on 15 hits in 4.1 innings.

Wennerberg went a perfect 4-for-4 in game two with five RBIs and four run scored. She also hit a home run in three-consecutive at-bats to fuel the Case Western offense. O'Brien and Wede also helped the cause with three hits each, while Christine Scherer and Erin Dreger each had two hits. Molnar earned the win after allowing four runs on five hits in 3.2 innings. Game one starter, Taylor, gave up just one hit in the final 2.1 innings.

The Big Red falls to 9-11 on the year, while the Spartans improve to 20-7. Denison resumes North Coast Athletic Conference play on Wednesday when they host a doubleheader with Oberlin at 3:30 p.m.