Elizabethtown, Ky. - On day two of the Pioneer Classic, Denison dropped both contests, losing to Franklin 10-9 and Hanover 2-1. The Big Red came up just shy in both games, with Brooke Surbaugh and Madilyn Moffitt having excellent days to pace the team. Denison now stands at 3-7 on the year.

Game One: Franklin 10, Denison 9

The first game saw the bats come alive, as the Big Red scored in the first four innings to take a 5-1. They tacked on four more in the sixth, but a comeback run from Franklin, which resulted in a seven-run seventh, and would defeat Denison in heartbreaking fashion. The Big Red rattled off 13 hits in the loss, with Brooke Surbaugh leading the way with three hits and four RBI's.

Denison got to work right away, as Surbaugh batted in Carley Melton from third after she stole two bags to go up 1-0. Liana "Seri" Su followed suit with a double to left field, bringing in Surbaugh to take the early 2-0 advantage. Surbaugh started the top of the second, striking out two Franklin batters and just giving up one hit. 

The Big Red were able to gather another run after surgical baserunning from Leilah Ferrari, as she scored after Alex Longstreth put one in play to advance Ferrari home to go up 3-0. Surbaugh continued to deal on the mound, and Denison fed off the defense with another run thanks to another Surbaugh RBI, this time being a double in which Madilyn Moffitt was able to score. Franklin was able to get on the board, making it 4-1, but Denison answered right back, as Indy Workman brought home Longstreth on an RBI single to go back up four again, 5-1.

After a quiet fifth, Franklin got two runs back in an action-filled sixth inning, making the score 5-3 still in favor of Denison. The Big Red, in what they have done all game, answered back, scoring four runs of their own from RBI's from Workman, Melton, and a two-run RBI double from Surbaugh, her fourth of the game, to go up 9-3 heading into the final frame.

In a last minute effort, Franklin put on their rally caps and pulled off a seven-run seventh inning to take back the lead to go up 10-9. The Big Red had chances in their last at-bats, as Su and Ferrari picked up hits to get runners on second and first, but would leave them stranded in a tough loss to Franklin.

Denison generated 13 hits in the loss, with Workman, Surbaugh, Su, Ferrari, and Longstreth recording multi-hit games. Surbaugh finished the game with four RBI's and went 3-4 at the dish. Workman also recorded two RBI's, and scored one run as well. On the mound, Surbaugh pitched 6.2 innings, and struck out eight and only walked one.

Game Two: Hanover 2, Denison 1

In an opposite result of game one, the Big Red dropped a low-scoring affair against Hanover in game two, 2-1. The Big Red were led by Madilyn Moffitt on the mound, as she pitched six innings, only giving up five hits, one earned run, and six strikeouts.

Denison struck first in the top of the third, as Carley Melton singled to center field, bringing in Alex Longstreth for the first run of the game and went up 1-0. Hanover answered shortly after with an RBI of their own, to knot the game up 1-1.

Moffitt stayed locked in on the bump, striking out a Panther while a couple of groundouts kept the defensive presence alive and well. Hanover was able to get their last run of the game in the fifth with an RBI single to go up 2-1, and what would ultimately be the deciding score. 

The Big Red had an opportunity in the seventh, as Liana "Seri" Su and Leilah Ferrari singled to put two ducks on the ponds, but back-to-back strikeouts sealed the game in a 2-1 decision in favor of Hanover.

Denison recorded six hits, as Melton had the only multi-hit game for the Big Red and lone RBI. Moffitt had an excellent day on the mound, striking out six and only giving up five hits.

Up Next for the Big Red

Denison returns for their home opener on Wednesday, March 18 for a double header against Muskingum University at 3:30 and 5:30 pm.