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Ohio Wesleyan 10, Denison 9
May 1, 2009
![[ Tara VanVranken ]](../images/vanvran3.jpg)
Sophomore outfielder Tara VanVranken (North Canton/Massillon Jackson) smashed a 2-run double to cap a 3-run sixth inning that lifted Ohio Wesleyan over top-seeded Denison in Game 2 of the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament on Friday in Granville.
Ohio Wesleyan advances to the winners bracket final to face second-seeded Hiram, a 4-3 winner over Allegheny in Game 1 of the tournament. The winner of the Ohio Wesleyan-Hiram game advances to the tournament championship game, scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday.
The Bishops raced to a 7-0 lead in the top of the first inning, collecting 5 hits and taking advantage of 2 Denison errors. VanVranken put the Bishops on the scoreboard with a 2-run double, scoring junior first baseman Emily Bradley (Columbus/Upper Arlington) and junior outfielder Amanda Sanders (Lima/Bath), and sophomore shortstop Kaylie Titus (East Hampton, N.Y.) followed with a single to score VanVranken.
Sophomore catcher Sarah Truchan (Westfield Center/Brunswick) added a single, and junior third baseman Rita Cook (Sidney/Fairlawn) singled in Titus, with Truchan scoring on an error by Denison rightfielder Amy Eberlin. After junior second baseman Devon Walker (Baltimore/Watkins Memorial) was hit by a pitch and junior outfielder Krystle Skaziak (Dublin/Scioto) reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases, Sanders delivered a 2-run single for a 7-0 Bishop lead.
Denison got one run back in the bottom of the inning on Erica Evans's RBI single, then scratched out an unearned run in the fourth to make it a 7-2 game.
The Big Red took the lead in the fifth, with Brie Berkopec and Sam Rumschlag hitting 2-run homers, and Mary Beth Krolikowski lashing a 2-run triple and coming in to score on Truchan's error on the play, giving Denison a 9-7 lead.
Ohio Wesleyan answered in the top of the sixth, closing to within 9-8 as Skaziak opened the inning with a single, and Bradley and Sanders reached on Denison errors before both runners scored on VanVranken's double to left center.
Freshman righthander Lauren McIntire (Marysville/Buckeye Valley) then retired the last 6 Denison batters in order to nail down the win.
Rumschlag, who came on the top of the first inning, was the losing pitcher in relief.