Sam Rumschlag tossed a complete-game four-hit shutout in DU's 1-0 victory over Muskingum on Monday.

The Denison University softball team split a twinbill with Muskingum College on Monday afternoon in Granville. The Big Red grinded out a 1-0 victory over the Muskies in game one and suffered an 8-5 set back in the nightcap.

Junior hurler Sam Rumschlag (Carmel, Ind./Cathedral) tossed a four-hit shutout en route to earning the game one victory. After allowing a pair of hits in the opening frame, Rumschlag got Muskingum catcher Ally Mazzei to fly out to right fielder Amy Eberlin (Toronto, Ont./Leaside) to get out of a bases loaded jam. The junior pitcher surrendered just two more hits and struck out two batters in the next six innings of work as she evened her record out at 4-4.

After five and a half scoreless innings the Big Red was finally able to hang one on the scoreboard. After junior Brie Berkopec (Mars, Pa./Mars Senior) reached base via fielding error to lead the bottom of the sixth, Alex Murray (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin) lined a single through the middle infield to advance pinch runner Kait Fiore (Milburn, N.J./Milburn) to second. With runners on the corners and one out, Fiore crossed the dish after Muskie reliever Heather Martin sailed a pitch over the catcher's head. Rumschlag was able to retire the side in the top of the seventh to secure the DU win.

Senior Mary Beth Krolikowski (Brunswick, Ohio/Holy Name) went 2-for-3 in game one while Murray and Emily Croll (Oak Harbor, Ohio/Oak Harbor) recorded the other two Denison hits.

Miscues spelled doom for the Big Red in game two as DU committed seven errors which led to four unearned Muskingum runs. The Muskies held a 3-1 lead after four innings of play, but an RBI single by senior Amanda Tipton (Massillon, Ohio/Massillon Jackson) drove in first-year Hannah Price (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) and trimmed the margin to one.

Unfortunately, a five-run top of the seventh for Muskingum expanded their lead to six runs heading into the bottom half of the final inning. After an RBI single by rookie Lauren Lynn (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) made it an 8-3 affair, sophomore Erica Evans (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) blasted a two-run homer which cut the deficit to three (8-5). Evans' home run was her third of the season, but it wasn't enough to overcome the defensive mistakes.

Berkopec went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI while Price logged a double and scored run. Krolikowski and Lynn also went 2-for-4 in game two. Junior Leslie Brenner (Deerfield, Ill./Deerfield) suffered the loss dropping her record to 3-5. Brenner pitched 6.1 innings allowing eight runs (four earned) on nine hits. Rumschlag came out of the bullpen and fanned the last two Muskie batters.

Denison (8-9) opens North Coast Athletic Conference play on Wednesday when they travel to Wittenberg University. Game time in Springfield, Ohio is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Game One Box [htm]

Game Two Box [htm]