GRANVILLE, Ohio--  Denison improved to 11-5 on the year after taking a pair from Defiance on Saturday afternoon at the Denison Softball Field.  The Big Red held off the Yellow Jackets for a 4-2 win in game one and followed that with a 9-4 victory in game two.

In the opener, Sarah Herold fired a complete game moving her record to 4-2 on the year.  She struck out four and scattered four hits in 7.0 innings pitched.  She also did some damage at the plate, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and one run scored. 

A three-run third inning broke the scoreless tie when Rick Asher's two-run single through the right side of the infield scored Herold and Lauren Secaras.  With Laura Began on third base, Asher was caught stealing but catcher Lindsey Clemson came through with a RBI single to left, scoring Bagan.

Defiance got on the board in the fifth when Jackie Hartman blasted a solo homer to dead centerfield.  In the sixth, Herold helped her own cause with a single through the left side of the infield that scored Kerry Hager.

In the seventh, Defiance's Michaela Bauer drove in Haley Patty with a sacrifice fly but Herold struck out Keri Hupp to seal up the win.

Denison jumped all over Defiance in game two, opening up an 8-0 lead after three innings.  A four-run third inning aided by four Yellow Jacket errors blew the game wide-open.

Defiance continued to chip away at the DU lead and in the sixth, Hartman's single to right scored two runs off Denison reliever Colleen Hoffman.  With the bases loaded, two outs and Denison leading 9-4, Erin Laswell entered the game and retired pinch hitter Mariah Huff to get out of the jam.

In the seventh, Laswell walked the leadoff batter but retired the next three Yellow Jackets in order for her second save of the season.

Taryn Welch got the start and pitched 3.2 innings.  She gave up one hit and two earned runs while walking a pair.  Hoffman (1-0) went two innings and earned the win as she scattered four hits and two runs while fanning two.  Defiance starter Jamie Kimbler took the loss.

In the two games, Ryan Lee went 4-for-7 with two RBIs and one run scored.  Herold was 4-for-8 with three runs scored while Asher and Mckinly Vazquez were 3-for-6.  Herold led all DU players with three RBIs and Vazquez tied for the team lead with two runs scored.

Denison hitters posted a .426 batting average while the Big Red pitchers limited the Yellow Jackets to a .188 average at the plate.

The Big Red returns to action on Wednesday (March 29) when they travel to Westerville, Ohio for a doubleheader with Otterbein University.  The first pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.