Columbus, Ga.- The Denison softball team split the opening day of the 2026 Leadoff Classic to kick off the 2026 spring season. The Big Red had a defensive battle in game one, defeating Stevens 1-0 for its first win of the season. In game two No. 4 Saint Mary's (Minn.) kept Denison's offense at bay, defeating the Big Red 5-1. Denison moves to 1-1 on the season while Stevens drops to 3-3, and Saint Mary's improves to 12-0.

Up Next: Denison takes on #23 Berry College (Ga.) at 10 a.m. followed by a 12:30 p.m. bill against #24 Belhaven University (Miss.), on day two of the 2026 Leadoff Classic.

Game 1 (Denison 1, Stevens 0)
The Big Red kicked off its 2026 campaign with a battle in the circle, both teams shutting down the other's offense to keep the game scoreless before the sixth. In the top of the first, Denison had four up to bat with Liana "Seri" Su doubling down the left line to get the first hit of the day. But the Ducks closed out the top of the inning following a pop-up to first. In the circle for the Big Red was Madilyn Moffitt, who struck out the first two players up to bat, and earned the third out of the bottom of the first off a ground out.

As the game progressed, Denison inched closer and closer to scoring, recording four hits across innings two and five. The Big Red finally found itself on the board in the top of the sixth, after Brooke Surbaugh singled to center field, and first-year Rosie Witt came in to pinch run. Witt immediately stole second and, in the next play, advanced to third on a passed ball. Witt would score Denison's lone run off a double by Emily Orsini.

The Ducks almost found their answer in the bottom of the sixth, but some timely putouts by the infield kept the Big Red's lead to one heading into the final frame. With the pressure on Stevens, Denison found themselves with two players on base and no outs; however, a pitching change swayed the inning back in the Duck's favor, with three quick outs to close out the top of the seventh. In the bottom of the seventh, Denison collected two quick outs before Stevens singled to center. Unfortunately for the Ducks, the Big Red ended the game swiftly after with a groundout to second.

Madilyn Moffitt pitched for the Big Red for the whole seven innings. She collected her first win of the season and allowed zero runs on four hits, one walk, and seven strikeouts. The Denison defense wrapped up game one with just one error.

Game 2 (Saint Mary's 5, Denison 1)
Denison marched into Game Two against No. 4 ranked St. Mary's University, and although the Big Red defense and pitching staff limited the Cardinals, Denison was unable to match on the offensive end in a 5-1 loss.

St. Mary's got on the board in the second inning after cashing in two home runs to go up 2-0. Denison was able to get two base runners thanks to a Madilyn Moffitt double in the first and a Leilah Ferrari single, but were unable to advance them home. The Cardinals added some insurance in the bottom of the fourth, scoring a run to extend the lead to three, and added two more in the bottom of the fifth. 

In the top of the seventh, Denison would throw their rally caps on down 5-0, as Brooke Surbaugh would reach first on a hit by pitch, and had Rosie Witt pinch run and steal second and reach third on a wild pitch to give the Big Red their best scoring opportunity of the afternoon. That's when Carley Melton singled to bring in Witt, and the Big Red scored their first run of the game. The rally would fall short, as a strikeout would effectively end the game with St. Mary's taking home the win, 5-1.

Denison tacked on four hits, with two coming from Moffitt, while Melton recorded the lone RBI. Indy Workman reached base three times, all on walks, and the Big Red left seven on base. Surbaugh took the loss and pitched six innings, striking out two while giving up four earned runs.