Newberg, Ore: Following a 22-4 rout on Tuesday, The No. 1 Big Red looked to stay hot in the Beaver state with a battle against the Bruins of George Fox University. Denison, riding a nine-game winning streak, relied on a nearly perfect outing by Cooper Marrs, who lasted 7.1 innings and retired 22 straight batters. Ultimately, the Big Red prevailed and brushed past the Bruins in a 6-2 decision. With the victory, the Big Red moves to 11-1 on the season while George Fox drops to 7-10

No. 1 Denison 6, George Fox 2

After posting double-digit runs in four straight games, the Big Red would find itself in a defensive battle, as the offense would be held scoreless in the top of the first inning. 

Following a pinch-hit grand slam in Tuesday's game, sophomore Cooper Marrs would get his first career start on the mound for the Big Red. Marrs would come out on fire, shutting down the Bruins' first inning with two strikeouts and only nine pitches.

The Denison offense would find some momentum in the top of the second. Kelly Crittenberger kicked the inning off with an infield single before advancing all the way to home on a pair of failed pickoffs and a wild pitch. In the following at-bat, Nate Lloyd doubled into right center before Kuyper Lashutka would score him with an RBI single to take a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the second, Marrs would continue his efficient outings, recording three outs on just seven pitches.

In the top of the third, Erik Sundgren would steal his 11th and 12th bases of the season, moving to a perfect 12-12 on the year. However, the Bruins would strand Sundgren to keep it at 2-0. Marrs would record another three-up-three-down inning and bring his strikeout total to five.

The two teams would trade scoreless fourth and fifth innings. In the leadoff batter of the top of the sixth, Andrew Fazio would smoke a solo shot homer down the left field line to extend the lead to 3-0. Crittenberger would reach first after an error by the shortstop. Max Fishbein would reach with a single to centerfield before Lloyd would score Crittenberger(unearned). With two runners in scoring position, the Bruins would pick two runners off the basepath to escape within striking distance.

Marrs would record another scoreless inning in the bottom of the sixth. In the seventh, Vega, Sundgren, and Fazio would load the bases with two outs. With a full count, Crittenberger would drive in a single run with an infield single to shortstop. Through seven innings, Marrs would face 21 batters and record 21 outs. 

The offense would be held stagnant in the top of the eighth inning. With a bid for Big Red history, Marrs would retire on the mound after 7.1 innings of work. Marrs would face 23 total batters and retire 22 straight. Ryan Paganelis would come out of the bullpen, retire the side, and keep a 5-0 lead. In the top of the ninth, the Big Red would tack on one final run, courtesy of Fazio, to make it 6-0 with just three outs left to go.

In the bottom of the final inning, the junior duo of Evan Cerretani and Max Mullen would close the game.  The Bruins would find two quick base runners with zero outs. Cerretani would record a huge looking strike three before George Fox would strike with a towering double off the left field wall to score two. Mullen would record a strikeout before Lloyd would camp under a pop fly to end the game in a 6-2 decision. 

Offensively, the Big Red struggled on the base path and were caught stealing and picked off twice. Sundgren, Vega, and Lloyd all went 2-4 at the dish. Fazio led the team with two RBIs. Collectively, the lineup struck out nine times and drew four walks. 

The sluggish offense was picked up with pure dominance on the mound. Marrs fanned 11 and retired 22 runners straight before giving up his lone hit in the top of the eighth inning. The last closing trio of Paganelis, Cerretani, and Mullen would strikeout three.

Up Next: The Big Red will stay out west and face the Linfield Wildcats for the first of three-game series on Thursday, March 19. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. ET.