SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (May 1, 2024) – In a battle between the third and fourth-place teams in the North Coast Athletic Conference standings, the Denison University softball team defeated Wittenberg University 3-2 in game one before winning 11-1 in five innings in game two. With a two-run home run to start the scoring in the fourth inning in game one, Annabelle Calderon became Denison's single-season home run leader with 11 homers so far as a junior.
 
Game 1 (Denison 3, Wittenberg 2):

• After Alessandra Groome led off the top of the fourth inning with a single to center field, Calderon followed with her two-run shot to left center field. In addition to being her 11th home run of the season, it was the 23rd home run of her career, putting her just two short of Lauren Secaras' program record of 25 home runs set in 2018.
• What would go on to be the deciding run for the Big Red came in the top of the sixth inning when Groome again led off with a single to center field but this time had to wait until a two-out single to left center by Jacqui Abogado to come around and score.
• Meanwhile, Brooke Surbaugh (9-6) pitched three straight 1-2-3 innings in the third, fourth and fifth innings and set down 13 consecutive batters before allowing the first hit of the game for Wittenberg with one out in the bottom of the sixth.
• That hit, however, would be the first of three straight singles for the Tigers, who then scored their first run on a hit by pitch and added a sacrifice fly to center field to make it 3-2.
• Fortunately for the Big Red, a heads up play by Calderon gunned down a Wittenberg runner at third base following the tag up on the sacrifice fly and ending the threat to try and tie the game by the Tigers.
• Then after Denison left the bases loaded in the top of the seventh inning, Madilyn Moffitt came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and got three straight outs on a groundout back to herself, a swinging strikeout and a flyout to center field to end it. It was Moffitt's fifth save of the season.
• Surbaugh finished with a line of six innings pitched allowing three hits, two runs and two walks.
• Calderon was 2-for-2 with a double and her two-run home run while Groome was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

 
Game 2 (Denison 11, Wittenberg 1):

• A two-out grand slam to left field by Abogado got the scoring started in the first inning.
• After back-to-back 1-2-3 innings by Sydney Silverstein (10-3) in the bottom of the third and the bottom of the fourth, Denison started off the top of the fifth inning with six straight hits and ultimately finished with eight hits in the inning.
• The Big Red scored six runs in their half of the fifth inning before another 1-2-3 inning by Silverstein in the bottom of the fifth.
• Silverstien retired each of the last 10 batters she faced and finished with five innings pitched allowing three hits, one run and one walk.
• As a team, Denison finished with 11 runs on 11 hits, led by Jordyn Maurer with a 3-for-3 effort.
• Maurer, Groome, Calderon and Abogado each finished with two runs scored.

 
Records:

• Denison improves to 22-10 overall and 9-3 in the North Coast Athletic Conference with its two wins while Wittenberg falls to .500 overall (19-19) and 5-7 in the conference.
• In addition to clinching a spot in the NCAC Tournament, Denison is currently tied for second place in the conference with Hiram College while Wittenberg falls to fifth place in the standings.

 
Next Up: The Big Red will play their final two conference games of the season as they host DePauw University for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 4.