One thing has been clearly proven over the last two weeks.

Denison plays its best when their backs are against the wall. 

Playing in essentially their seventh "elimination" game over the last two weeks, the Big Red lived to play another day following a 4-1 win over Allegheny at the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament in Greencastle, Ind.

After suffering a 9-2 loss to top-seeded DePauw earlier in the day, Denison returned to face the Gators in an elimination game Friday afternoon.  After needing to win its final six regular season conference games just to make the NCAC Tournament, Denison was determined not to be the first team sent packing.

The Big Red got things going in the second inning when Ryan Lee led off with a double down the line in left.  She would advance to third on a wild pitch by Gator starter Caitlin Nealer and with one out, Anna Balch singled to second base, scoring Lee with the first run of the game.  Emily Lipsitz would follow with a single to center.  On the throw from the outfield, the ball would get away from Allegheny's third baseman, allowing Balch to score and give Denison the 2-0 lead.

In the third inning, Marlie Mounts singled to left center, scoring Kerry Hager who led off the frame with a base hit.

Taking a 3-0 lead into the fourth, the Big Red would manufacture one more run as Hager drove in Rooney with a single to left after a double by Herold moved Rooney at third.

Herold, who was making just her second start and fourth appearance of the season, was dominate in the circle for Denison. She kept the Allegheny hitters off balance, scattering four hits while fanning eight.  She did not walk a batter and Allegheny's lone run would come off a seventh inning home run by Sadie Stuart.

The loss went to Nealer who pitched all six innings for Allegheny.  She drops to 12-9 on the year while Herold improves to 3-0.

Denison will return to DePauw University on Saturday to play Wittenberg at 11 a.m.  The winner of that game will advance to play DePauw at 1 p.m. in the first of potentially two championship games.  Live audio of Saturday's game with Wittenberg will be provided by The Denison Sports Network.