The Denison softball team closed out their spring break trip with a thrilling 3-2 come-from-behind victory over George Fox on Friday in Tucson, Ariz. Earlier in the day, the Big Red suffered an 11-7 setback to the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire.

In game two on Friday, the Bruins jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after scoring single runs in the first and second innings. Junior Kerry Hager cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the third with a base hit up the middle that scored sophomore Sarah Herold.

After three and a half scoreless innings, Denison was down to its final three outs still trailing by a run. Despite striking out to open the frame, freshman Ricki Asher reached first base on a dropped third strike. Lauren Secaras was hit by a pitch in the next at bat, which moved the game-tying run into scoring position. After both Asher and Secaras both advanced on a wild pitch, pinch hitter Maddy Cormier tied the game with a base hit to center that scored Asher. After unsuccessfully trying to score from third on a ball hit by Herold, Cormier was able to touch the dish after Bruin shortstop Kayla Anderson misplayed a ball hit by Mckinly Vazquez.

Secaras picked up her second win of the season after allowing two unearned runs on four hits with a career-high 11 strikeouts. Hager was 2-for-2 at the dish with an RBI, while Herold, Asher and Cormier scored DU's three runs.

In the opener, the Blugolds scored first with four runs in the top of the third inning. The Big Red answered in the bottom of the frame with four runs of their own. Hager got DU on the board with a base hit to left that scored Maddie Crull and Herold. Hager later came around to score on a base hit by Laura Bagan. Vazquez tied the contest at 4-4 with a single up the middle that plated Bagan.

After giving up a run in the fifth, Denison took its first lead of the day with a two-run bottom of the fifth. Frehsman Colleen Hoffman tied the game once again with a single that scored Bagan, while Asher scored the go-ahead run on a missed played ball at third. Despite falling into a one-run hole, Wisconsin-Eau Claire regained a 9-6 lead with four runs in the sixth frame. Amanda Howell shrunk the margin to two with an RBI double that scored Hager. The Bluegolds set the final score with two more runs in the seventh.

Hager finished with three hits, two RBIS and two runs, while Herold, Crull and Bagan all recorded two hits. Bagan scored twice and drove in a run, while Herold had a run an RBI and a stolen base. Crull also scored once and swiped a bag. Hoffman (1-2) took the loss after allowing five runs (two earned) on six hits with four strikeouts in 2.2 innings out of the pen. Herold got the start and surrendered four unearned runs on three hits in three innings.

Denison closed out their spring trip with a 4-6 record. The Big Red returns to action on Tuesday (March 22) when they travel to New Concord, Ohio to take on Muskingum University. Game one of the doubleheader is slated to begin at 3:30 p.m.