Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Greencastle, Ind.- The No. 5 Denison Big Red traveled to Greencastle to take on the Tigers from DePauw University.  The Tigers present to the Big Red with a 9-19 overall record. In the all-time series between the two schools, Denison holds a 26-17 lead. The last matchup between the NCAC foes ended in a 10-2 decision in the 2024 conference tournament. In game 1, Denison battled the Tigers into 11 innings, securing an emotional 12-4 win. Later in game 2, Denison continued the momentum and took an 8-6 win to secure the sweep.

Up Next: The Big Red host a doubleheader against the College of Wooster this weekend on Saturday, April 19 at 12 p.m. Stay tuned for potential schedule changes.
 

Game 1 (Denison 12, DePauw 4) 11 Innings

The Big Red found themselves with a target on their back in game 1. DePauw, facing off with a losing record, fought till the last pitch in the 11 inning showdown. The Big Red jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first frame courtesy of an sac fly from Erik Sundgren and a ground ball with bases loaded from Jack Rollo. It wouldn't be till the fourth inning till the Big Red crossed home again when Jack Lutte scored Cade Nowik with a base hit into right field. Eron Vega later stole home.

The Big Red did not record a hit from the 6th inning until the 11th inning, showcasing the fight from the Tiger defense. DePauw was able to chip away with a solo home run in the fourth but was able to knot things up at four all in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings.

After a scoreless 10th inning, the Big Red offense shook off the rust and caught fire. Nowik and Vega kicked off the inning reaching first and second. Jack Steel was put in to pinch hit and laid down a perfect bunt to juice the bases. Lutte was walked to officially take the lead. In to the box stepped reigning Division III player of the year, Eric Colaco. With the bases juiced, a slim lead, and a 3-1 count, Colaco launched a grand slam into deep center field to extinguish the flame the Tigers had been riding on. The Big Red continued to lay it on thick, with Alex Vasquez and Cade Nowik tacking on additional runs to bring the score to 12-4.

The offense was led by Cade Nowik, pacing the offense with a 3-6 performance. Eric Colaco highlighted the box score with four RBIs from the extra-inning grand slam. In total, six different players drove in runs.

On the mound, junior righty Will Rettig got the start for the Big Red. Through 6.2 innings, Rettig allowed just one run and struck out seven. Michael Gray, Jack Rollo, and Mahoney Daunic made appearances out of the bullpen. The foursome of arms gathered 11 strikeouts. Jack Rollo was credited with the win.

 

Game 2 (Denison 8, Depauw 6)

After a slow start in game 1, the late game heroics coursed through the visiting dugout to kickoff game 2. After DePauw tacked on one run in the first inning, the Big Red went on to hang five runs in the third inning. Eric Colaco, Max Fishbein, and Erik Sundgren all recorded RBIs while Sundgren and Fishbein crossed home plate on a wild pitch and a double-play, respectively.

Later in the fifth, Andrew Fazio drove in a run after drilling a full count pitch into right field to score Fishbein. Sparks flew in the seventh inning as Erik Sundgren mashed his 12th homer of the year(T-5 in Division III). With the two RBIs in game two and one from game one, Sundgren now stands at 55 on the year, landing him at 3rd in the nation across Division III.

The Tigers stayed relentless in pursuit of a victory, scoring five runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh to cut the Big Red lead down to two. Two scoreless frames to close the game resulted in the 8-6 victory for the Big Red.
 
Sophomore Sam Larson got the start for the Big Red. Through 6.0 innings, he allowed four hits and just one run while striking out eight. Ryan Starr, Manny Nager, and Ryan Paganelis made appearances out of the bullpen. The staff was supported by a perfect fielding performance. Larson was credited with the win.