The Denison softball team used late-game magic to earn a doubleheader sweep of Muskingum University, 4-3 and 6-2, on Tuesday afternoon at Donna J. Newberry Field in New Concord, Ohio.

In the opener, the Big Red produced runs in the third and fourth to take an early 2-0 advantage. After reaching with a one-out single in the third, sophomore Sarah Herold stole her way to third base before coming home on a double to left center by junior Kerry Hager. Sophomore Lauren Secaras used instant offense to increase the DU lead to 2-0 when she went yard for the first time this season with one down in the fourth.

Muskingum answered the Secaras homer with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a one-run edge. The Muskie lead held up until the seventh when the Big Red scored twice off four hits. Two outs away from suffering a game-one loss, freshman Maddy Cormier got the rally going with a pinch-hit single to center. Herold followed with a double to center that scored Cormier from first base. With a runner at third, freshman Maddie Crull reached on an infield single to put runners at the corners with one out. Hager recorded Denison's fourth-consecutive hit, driving in Herold with a single down the right line.

Now clinging to a 4-3 lead, Herold returned to the circle to try and close out the win. After striking out Mackenzie Martin looking, the sophomore lefty induced back-to-back ground ball outs to Ricki Asher at second to nail down her second win of the season.

Secaras was a perfect 3-for-3 in the opener with a home run, an RBI and one run, while Herold, Crull and Hager all logged two hits. Hager drove in a pair, while Herold had two runs, an RBI and two stolen bases. Crull and Hager also swiped a bag. Herold (2-3) went the distance inside the circle, allowing three runs on five hits with six strikeouts.

After falling behind 2-0 after two innings in game two, the Big Red tied things up with a pair of runs in the fifth frame. With runners at the corners, sophomore Mckinly Vazquez broke for second base on a steal attempt. On the throw to second, Asher was able to cross the dish on an errant throw by the catcher. With two outs, Crull tied the game with a double to left that scored Vazquez.

After a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth, the Denison offense went back to work. After giving up two quick outs, Asher dropped a single into left field. Junior Ryan Lee followed with a double to right center that put runners at second and third. Vazquez gave DU its first lead of the game with a double to left that scored both Asher and Lee. Herold continued the hit parade with a double to left that drove in Vazquez, while an infield single by Crull scored Herold.

Holding on to a four-run lead heading into the seventh, Secaras was just three outs away from victory. After walking the first batter of the inning, the sophomore struck out Alyxis Moore for the first out of the seventh. Lee helped out her pitcher by making a diving stop in front of second and crawling to the bag for the second out. Secaras closed out the game with a strikeout of Melissa Maiorano.

Vazquez went 3-for-3 with two doubles, two runs, two RBIs and a stolen base, while Crull also collected three hits and drove in a pair. Asher and Hager recorded a pair of hits, while Asher also touched the dish twice. Secaras, the reigning North Coast Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week, improved to 3-1 on the year after surrendering two runs on six hits with four strikeouts.

With the twinbill sweep, Denison improves to 6-6 while Muskingum falls to 7-9. The Big Red returns to action on Wednesday (March 23) when they travel to Defiance College. Game one of the doubleheader is slated to start at 3:30 p.m.