GRANVILLE, Ohio – Denison softball closed out their home schedule on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader split with Wittenberg University at the Denison Softball Field in Granville. After coming away victorious in game one, 6-3, the Big Red suffered an 8-3 loss in game two. Prior to the start of game one, seniors Gabi Dufresne and Emily DeSheles were honored and recognized for their four years of commitment and dedication to the Denison softball program.

Game 1

• In game one, freshman Lexi Knipp started in the pitching circle for the Big Red and tamed the Tigers with a complete-game performance. In a complete seven innings of work, Knipp allowed three runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts on 88 pitches. The win moved her record to 2-4 on the season.
• Knipp also helped herself at the plate as she finished the game 3-for-4 with two runs batted in and a run scored. With Denison leading 2-0 in the bottom of the third, Knipp doubled DU's lead when she connected on a double to deep center field, scoring Dufresne and Taylor Faulkenberg to make it a 4-0 game. Knipp scored in the next at-bat when Caitlin Ellwanger drove her home with an RBI single, giving the Big Red a 5-0 lead.
• Leading 5-1 in the fourth, Maggie Ballentine continued Denison's double parade when she tallied a two-bagger to right center that scored Claire Powell and built DU's lead back to five, 6-1. Wittenberg added two runs in the sixth, but their rally wasn't enough as the Big Red earned their fourth win in conference play.
• Ballentine each went 2-for-4 in game one, while each player also tallied an RBI and a run scored. Dufresne and Ellwanger also recorded RBI's for the Big Red.

Game 2

• In game two, Denison's Sophia Parpala and Wittenberg's Mary Britton found themselves in a pitchers dual through the first three innings of play as they combined for only one run on seven hits with two strikeouts.
• With the Tigers leading 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth, sophomore Abby Arabia cut Wittenberg's lead in half when she tallied a home run over the left centerfield wall to put the Big Red behind by one, 2-1.
• Both sides remained locked at 2-1 until the seventh inning when the Tigers added six runs on six hits to take an 8-1 lead into the final half inning of play. Faulkenberg kept DU's hopes alive with a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh, but Denison's comeback came up short as they fell to 7-18 overall and 4-6 in NCAC play. The win sent Wittenberg to 19-9-1 overall and 4-6 in the conference.
• Faulkenberg led the Big Red with a 3-for-4 effort with a pair of RBI's. Arabia and Sam Kline also posted multi-hit performances for the Big Red.

Denison and Wittenberg will square off again next Wednesday, May 5 when they travel to Springfield, Ohio for a doubleheader with the Tigers set to begin at 3:30 p.m. Game two will follow at 5:30 p.m.