Sam Rumschlag

The fourth-seeded Ohio Wesleyan University plated three sixth inning runs to counter a seven-run rally in the fifth by top-seeded Denison University. The Battling Bishops edged the Big Red 10-9 in game two of the 2009 North Coast Athletic Conference Softball Championship Tournament on a soggy Friday afternoon.

After surrendering seven one-out tallies in the top of the first inning, junior pitcher Sam Rumschlag (Carmel, Ind./Cathedral) came out of the bullpen to toss 6.2 innings of lights out softball. Rumschlag struck out 11 of the first 15 batters she faced en route to a career-high 12 strikeout performance which shattered her previous personal best of seven Ks in a game. The junior also issued just one free pass, allowed three unearned runs and scattered five hits.

Heading into the bottom of the fifth down 7-2 the DU offense found new life to take their only lead of the afternoon. After sophomore Erica Evans (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) drew a lead off walk, junior catcher Brie Berkopec (Mars, Pa./Mars Senior) shrunk the margin to 7-4 with a two-run bomb to dead center. Denison clawed even closer when Rumschlag helped her own cause with a home run to center field with one out and one on to make it a 7-6 affair.

Amy Eberlin (Toronto, Ont./Leaside) and Hannah Price (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) kept the rally going by reaching via fielding error and base on balls, respectively. After an Ohio Wesleyan pitching change senior Mary Beth Krolikowski (Brunswick, Ohio/Holy Name) cleared the bases with a two-run triple and crossed the dish on the same play after a Bishop miscue.

However, three hits coupled with two fielding miscues allowed Ohio Wesleyan to tally three scores in the next half inning and eventually move on in the winner's bracket of the tournament.

In addition to her performance inside the circle, Rumschlag finished the game 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored while rookie Lauren Lynn (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) also went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

Tara VanVranken hit two doubles, drove in four runs and scored another to pace the Bishops' offense. Sarah Truchan and Krystle Skaziak each went 2-for-4 with a run scored while Amanda Sanders had a single, three RBIs and two runs. Hurler Lauren McIntire notched her sixth win of the season in 2.2 innings of relief.

Denison falls to 21-17 on the year while OWU improves to 24-14-1. The Battling Bishops return to the field on Saturday to take on second-seeded Hiram College at 10 a.m. for the right to advance to the championship game of the NCAC Tournament. The Big Red will take on third-seeded Allegheny College at noon on Saturday in the first elimination game of the tournament.

**Due to severe thunderstorms and because of the shift in schedule, the championship game(s) have been pushed back to Sunday, May 3.  The start time for Game #6 has not been determined.**