The Denison softball team rebounded from their first two North Coast Athletic Conference losses with a doubleheader sweep at Allegheny on Sunday in Meadville, Pa. DU won the opener 12-4 and took the second game 14-4.

In game one, the Big Red pounded out a season-high 20 hits, which tied the second-highest total since the 2001 season. Denison opened the game with a four-run first before adding a solo run in the fourth and two more in the fifth. DU reached double-digit runs for the seventh time this season after scoring three times in the top of the sixth, moving the score to 10-0. The Gators avoided a run-rule loss with four runs in the bottom of the sixth, but two more runs in the top of the seventh set the final score.

Seven of the Big Red's nine starters recorded multiple hits led by junior Kerry Hager and freshman Laura Bagan who both went 4-for-5 on the day. Hager scored two runs, while Bagan logged a double and drove in three runs. Sophomores Sarah Herold and Lauren Secaras each went 3-for-5 with a triple. Herold touched the dish twice and knocked in a run, while Secaras scored three times and had an RBI. Freshman Amanda Howell, junior Ryan Lee and Mckinly Vazquez all posted two hits. Howell also had three runs and an RBI, while Lee and Vazquez each registered a run and an RBI.

Herold improved to 10-4 on the year after recording the win inside the circle. The southpaw surrendered four runs on five hits with two strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work. Freshman Colleen Hoffman scattered three hits in 1.2 scoreless innings out of the pen.

After falling into a 3-0 hole in the nightcap, Secaras pulled the Big Red even with a two-out bases clearing double in the third that tied the game at 3-3. The Gators pulled back in front with a run in the bottom of the inning. In the fifth frame, sophomore Katie Nichols and Lee gave DU a lead on a ball hit by Howell. The freshman scored an insurance run on a wild pitch during Vazquez's at bat. Denison scored four more runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to solidify the 10-run victory.

All nine Big Red starters recorded a hit. Hager, Vazquez and Ricki Asher all led the charge with three hits apiece, while Maddie Crull and Howell both logged two hits. Howell drove in a game-high four runs and scored three times, while Bagan knocked in three runs. Crull, Lee and Secaras had two runs each. Erin Laswell (2-1) gave up four runs on seven hits with three Ks in four innings, while Secaras earned her team-leading third save after scattering three hits in three scoreless frames.

The Big Red improves to 17-11 overall and 6-2 in the NCAC with the sweep, while Allegheny falls to 6-14 and 2-6 in the league. Denison continues its road trip on Wednesday (April 20) when they travel to Wooster for a doubleheader with the Scots. Game one is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.