The Denison softball team moved to 2-2 on the season after picking up victories over the University of Minnesota Crookston, 15-8, and Robert Morris University Chicago, 9-4, on Monday in Tucson, Ariz.

Trailing 6-1 through two and a half innings in the opener, the Big Red scored nine unanswered runs to take a 10-6 lead. The Denison rally started in the bottom of the third when Kerry Hager drove in Sarah Herold with a sacrifice fly to right. After keeping the Golden Eagles off the board in the fourth, DU added three more runs in the fourth. Ricki Asher knocked in Amanda Howell with a double, while a ground out by Katie Nichols scored Laura Bagan. Asher scored the third run of the frame on a wild pitch.

Sophomore Lauren Secaras retired the side in order in the fifth keeping the Big Red deficit at one run. Howell tied the game at 6-6 with a base hit that scored Hager. Sophomore Erinn Henry broke the tie when she scored on a wild pitch. Junior Ryan Lee extended DU's advantage with a two-run homer, while Hager drew a bases-loaded walk that forced in Asher.

Minnesota Crookston shrunk the margin to two following a two-run single by Sammy Kuhlow, but another five-run output by the Big Red offense in the bottom of the sixth all put secured the win for DU. Bagan hit an RBI triple that scored Howell before coming home on a fielding miscue on a ball hit by Lee. Herold singled in Lee from third, while Mckinly Vazquez doubled in Herold and Asher.

Five different Denison players recorded two hits led by Herold's 3-for-4 performance. The sophomore finished with an RBI, three runs and two stolen bases.  Howell and Asher also touched the dish three times, while Vazquez, Hager and Lee each drove in a pair. Secaras picked up the win after tossing five inning, allowing eight runs (six earned) on eight hits with four strikeouts. Herold closed out the final two innings, surrendering one hit with five strikeouts.

In the nightcap, the Big Red knocked off Robert Morris Chicago thanks in large part to an eight-run bottom of the first. Secara opened the scoring by drawing a bases-loaded walk that scored Herold. Howell followed with a two-run single that knocked in Hager and Vazquez. After a Bagan single reloaded the bases, Asher cleared the bags with a triple that forced an early pitching change by the Eagles. Asher came around to score on a misplayed ball at first, while Vazquez capped off the offensive explosion with a SAC fly to left that scored Maddie Crull.

Asher finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs, two runs and a stolen base, while Howell had two hits and drove in a pair. Herold, who logged two hits, picked up the win inside the circle after surrendering four runs on nine hits with four strikeouts.

Denison (2-2) will return to action on Wednesday (March 16) against La Verne (9 am MST) and Carleton (11 am MST).