Bri Scrofano has pitched Denison into Sunday's NCAC Championship game after wins over No. 2 Ohio Wesleyan and No. 4 Hiram.

The Denison softball team entered the NCAC tournament as the #3 seed and after two days of upsets, have advanced to the NCAC Tournament Championship game.  After defeating No. 2 seed Ohio Wesleyan on Friday, the Big Red handed  No. 4 seed Hiram, who eliminated top-seed Allegheny, 6-5 to advance to Sunday's championship game.

Hiram got on the board first in the top of the second inning with a lead off home run by Chastine Romanello.  Denison would answer in a big way in the bottom of the second, plating four runs.  The Big Red took advantage of four hit batters and a two out, two run double by junior Mary Beth Krolikowski (Brunswick, Ohio/Holy Name).

The Big Red would add to their lead in the bottom of the third as sophomore catcher Brie Berkopec (Mars, Pa./Mars) led off the inning with a solo home run, making the score 5-1 in Denison's favor.

Neither team scored until Hiram chipped away from the lead in the top of the fifth.  Jena Ervin cut the lead to 5-3 with a one out, two run homer to left center.

Denison went quietly through their half of the fifth inning and the Terriers again used the long ball to their favor, putting up two more runs in the top of the sixth.  Whitney Dropsey led off the inning with a double and was driven in when Heidi Gipson hit a one out home run to left field, tying the score, 5-5.

Neither team scored going into the bottom of the seventh, setting the table for a dramatic finish for the Big Red.  With two outs and runners on first and second, Berkopec again came up big for Denison with a single down the left field line, scoring freshman Erica Evans (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) and sending Denison to the championship game.

Bri Scrofano (Longs, S.C./McDowell) improved to 14-4 with the win.  She struck out four and allowed five runs off eight hits.  Her 14 wins is the third most by a DU pitcher since 2002. 

Denison will again play Hiram, who defeated #1 seed Allegheny for the second time advance to the championship game which will be played Sunday at 10 a.m.  If Hiram wins, a second game will take place at 12 p.m. to decide the conference champion.

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