GRANVILLE, Ohio (March 1, 2023) – The new 2023 season for the Denison University softball team is scheduled to begin this weekend as for the second season in a row, the Big Red will travel to Raleigh, North Carolina, to kick off the year with six games at the Grand Slam Triangle Classic (Mar. 3-5).

After its season-opening trip to North Carolina, Denison will head back to Ohio for its home opener against Franklin College starting at 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 9.

That following weekend, the Big Red will play in their second tournament of the season as they travel to Winchester, Virginia, for the Shenandoah University Softball Classic (Mar. 11-12).

Denison will play at home four more times in March (3/16 vs. Otterbein; 3/18 vs. Allegheny; 3/24 vs. Centre; 3/30 vs. Marietta) before opening up North Coast Athletic Conference action on the road at the College of Wooster on Saturday, April 1. The Big Red will then host Oberlin College the following day on Sunday, April 2.

Senior Day for Denison is slated for Saturday, April 15, as the Big Red host Hiram College starting at 1 p.m., and then after its final home series against Wittenberg University on Wednesday, April 26, Denison will close out the regular season at DePauw University on Saturday, April 29.

Last season Denison finished with a 19-22 record overall and was 8-8 in the NCAC while earning the No. 3 seed for the conference tournament. Looking to lead the Big Red this season will be senior Maggie Ballentine along with sophomores Jacqui Abogado and Annabelle Calderon. Abogado and Calderon were both Second-Team All-NCAC selections as freshman a year ago while another sophomore, Sydney Silverstein, will be Denison's leading returner in the circle after pitching 11 compete games as a freshman.

In all, the Big Red will only have three seniors (Maggie Ballentine, Abby Arabia, Sophia Parpala) and one junior (Clara Wolff) on the roster while Grace Goodin, Charlotte Doulette and Macie Harkovich each return for the sophomore campaigns as well.

To go along with the 10 returners, nine freshman will look to make their collegiate debuts for Denison in 2023, led by pitcher Brooke Surbaugh, shortstop Indy Workman, outfielders Alessandra Groome and Brianna Gonzalez, and utility player Erika Gustafson.

"We are excited to kick the 2023 season off in Raleigh," said Head Coach Tiffany Ozbun. "Our practices for the past three weeks have been what you would expect from a team hungry to compete. Every year we are challenged with replacing experienced student-athletes and leaders. We graduated five last May and added nine first-years this Fall. We are young, but only by age. This first-year class is full of talent and experience on the field. In addition, our captains (Maggie Ballentine, Abby Arabia, Sophia Parpala, Clara Wolff) have done a phenomenal job leading and making sure we are one cohesive unit."

To follow the action all season long, please check out our Live Events page for all the video and live stats details: https://denisonbigred.com/coverage