For the third time in the last four season and the sixth time in the program's 12 year history, Denison University will host the North Coast Athletic Conference softball championship tournament.

Allegheny, Denison, Hiram and Ohio Wesleyan make up the four-team field in the double elimination tournament set to begin on Friday, May 1 and continue through Saturday, May 2.

The Big Red secured the tournament's top seed after posting an 11-3 record in conference action. DU locked up their sixth NCAC regular season crown after defeating Hiram College 5-1 in the opening game of a doubleheader last Saturday. Since instituting the tournament format in 2001, Denison has appeared in all but one NCAC Tournament (2004), which include berths in the last five post seasons. The Big Red have also compiled at least 20 wins for the fifth straight season and the eighth time in the last nine years. Senior center fielder Mary Beth Krolikowski (Brunswick, Ohio/Holy Name) is first in the NCAC in at bats, second in triples and third in runs scored and hits. Also adding to DU's potent offense is junior catcher Brie Berkopec (Mars, Pa./Mars Senior). In addition to being the 40th toughest batter to strikeout in the nation, Berkopec leads the conference in slugging percentage and home runs, is second in total bases and third in RBIs. Junior pitchers Sam Rumschlag (Carmel, Ind./Cathedral) and Leslie Brenner (Deerfield, Ill./Deerfield) have each posted 10-8 records this season. Rumschlag is carrying a 2.18 ERA with 81 strikeouts and is holding batters to a .252 average while Brenner has a 3.11 earned run average, has held batters to a .297 average and registered 58 Ks.

The Terriers of Hiram College enter the weekend as the number two seed after going 10-4 in NCAC play. Hiram senior Stephanie Zunic and rookie Kristen Cooney are both hitting over .400, with Zunic carrying a .541 slugging percentage. Zunic also leads the Terriers with 17 doubles, 30 runs scored and 73 total bases. Junior hurler Whitney Dropsey has posted a 15-8 record inside the circle with 118 strikeouts. Dropsey currently holds a 2.00 ERA and is holding opposing batters to a .248 average. At the dish, Dropsey is hitting .361 with 17 RBIs and 24 runs scored.

The Allegheny College Gators are the No. 3 seed after a 9-5 performance in the league. Junior Maggie Bodenlos leads the Gator offense with a .410 batting average. Bodenlos also ranks first on the team in triples, home runs, total bases and runs scored, and is tied for second with 10 doubles. Senior Rachel Ryan has driven in a team-high 37 runs and scored 29 of her own. Ryan is hitting .388 with a team-best 12 doubles and six homers. On the rubber, first-year Stacey Robertshaw has compiled an 11-4 record in 20 starts for AC. The rookie pitcher has a 2.54 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 121.1 innings pitched.

After splitting a season-ending twinbill with Wittenberg, Ohio Wesleyan claimed the tournament's fourth seed via tiebreakers. The Battling Bishops went 8-6 in conference play. Junior southpaw Rachel Seibel has posted a 14-7 mark as the ace for the OWU pitching staff. Seibel has tossed 148.1 innings, compiled a 2.03 ERA and fanned 135 batters. The Johnstown, Ohio native is also holding opposing hitters to a .240 average. Offensively, Ashley Allen and Emily Bradley are hitting .346 and .344, respectively. Bradley scored 35 runs, driven in 21 more and swiped 10 bags while Allen has seven doubles, 17 RBIs, 22 run scored.

Click on the link below to access the 2009 NCAC Softball Championship Tournament site.

Tournament Site