WOOSTER, Ohio- Denison captured the 2021 North Coast Athletic Conference Championship on Friday following a 10-5 victory over the College of Wooster. With the win, Denison receives the NCAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Regionals next week.



It took 23 innings on Thursday to force today's winner-take-all championship game after the Big Red took game one in 13 innings and the Scots took game two in 10 innings.  Wooster took a 2-0 lead in the third inning off a Tyler Chumita two-run double.

In the bottom of the third, Denison responded when Will Krushena blasted a 3-run homer to left center scoring Max Lahn and Brian McAuliffe. The home run was the ninth of the season for Krushena and the 20^th of his career.

The score remained 3-2 in favor of the Big Red until the fifth when senior Ty Robinson delivered a 2-run blast to right scoring Danny Alvarez.  A three-run sixth inning fueled by RBI singles from Krushena and Alvarez and a fielder's choice by Robinson pushed the Denison lead to six.

In the seventh, McAuliffe blew the game wide open with a two-run home run to right center.  It was the first home run of the series for the power hitting first baseman and it was the 12^th of the season which ties Brian Regan '04 for the single-season record for home runs. 

Will McManaman got the start and pitched six innings allowing seven hits and two earned runs while striking out four. He walked only one batter before turning the ball over to reliever Jack Arnstein in the seventh.  On Thursday, Arnstein was the hero of game one, pitching six innings of scoreless relief as Denison prevailed 5-4 in 13 innings.  The rubber-armed right-hander was back on the bump in the seventh until he closed out the victory by striking out Dane Camphausen in the ninth.

Arnstein was named the Most Valuable Player of the NCAC Championship Series. He pitched 9 innings in two games and was 1-0 with one save. He allowed three earned runs and struck out 11 while surrendering two walks. 

Krushena was 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBI in the clincher.  Dylan Hunter was 3-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored.  Wooster starting pitcher Corey Knauf took the loss in 2.2 innings of work.  The Scots pieced together the remainder of the game getting the final 5.1 innings out of five relievers.

Denison improves to 23-11 while Wooster falls to 25-13. The NCAA will announce the 2021 NCAA Tournament field on Sunday, May 23 before midnight, eastern time.  Check NCAA.com for updates.