Edited: May 5, 2008

Denison (8-6, 25-10) claimed its fourth NCAC Tournament championship after topping fourth-seeded Hiram (8-6, 18-20), 13-2 (5), in the championship game. The Big Red, who entered the tourney as the third seed, won their first two games at the top-four, double-elimination event, defeating second-seeded Ohio Wesleyan (10-4, 17-21), 5-0, and edging Hiram, 6-5. The Terriers opened the tournament by upsetting top-seeded Allegheny (11-3, 24-15), 8-6. Hiram fell to Denison, then rebounded to defeat Allegheny, 8-5, to advance to the championship game. As Tournament winners, Denison claims the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Denison will be making its fourth NCAA appearance and their first since 2006. The Big Red were awarded the sixth seed in the region and travel to Rowan in Glassboro, NJ, for the first round Thursday through Monday, May 8-12. They open the seven-team, double-elimination tournament against the host Profs (31-9), the third seed, at 12:00 p.m. Thursday. The other five teams in the field are top seeded Muskingum (36-9), No. 2 Mt. Union (30-7), No. 4 Kean (30-14), No. 5 Western Connecticut St. (28-13) and No. 7 Hunter (22-19). The winner of the first-round tournament advances as the number seven seed to the Finals, hosted by the City of Salem, Virginia, and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, May 16-20 at the James I. Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, VA. Denison has compiled a 4-7 record in its previous national appearances.

Denison sophomore Brie Berkopec (Mars, PA/Mars) was named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament, joining seniors Bri Scrofano (Longs, SC/McDowell) and Ali Teopas (Sylvania, OH/Northview), junior Mary Beth Krolikowski (Brunswick, OH/Holy Name) and freshman Erica Evans (Worthington, OH/Thomas Worthington) on the All-Tournament team. Berkopec drove in five runs in three games and led the Big Red with six hits in 11 plate appearances (545). She leads the team with a .398 batting average and has driven in a team-high 36 runs off nine doubles and six home runs this spring.

Hiram senior Jamie Brown (Louisville, OH/Louisville) and juniors Heidi Gipson (Canal Fulton, OH/Northwest), Chastine Romanello (Phoenix, AZ/Barry Goldwater) and Stephanie Zunic (Canfield, OH/Canfield) were also named to the team. Allegheny was represented on the all-tourney squad by senior Abby Bodenlos (Pittsburgh, PA/Shadyside Academy) and freshman Marci Potuzko (Greensburg, PA/Hempfield Area), while Ohio Wesleyan was represented by sophomore Emily Bradley (Columbus, OH/Upper Arlington).

Denison leads all NCAC teams with four Tournament titles, followed by Allegheny with three. Wittenberg has one. The NCAC first held a post-season softball tournament following the 2001 season.

Notes:
OBERLIN closed out a tough season on a high note as the Yeowomen swept Franciscan, 9-6 and 12-5. They posted a season-high 12 runs and 12 hits in the second game. Sophomore Jennifer Sees (Frederick, MD/Tuscarora) led Oberlin at the plate and on the mound as she was 3-for-3 with a run batted in and two runs scored. She also worked all seven innings on the mound, striking out three batters en route to earning the win ...

KENYON evened its 2008 overall record at 16-16 after splitting with Otterbein. The Ladies chalked up a 9-6 victory in the opener before capping their season with a 10-3 loss in the second game. Kenyon racked up 15 hits in the victory, seven of which went for extra bases. Freshman starting pitcher Brittany Vanegas (Alameda, CA/Redwood Christian) helped her own cause by jacking two doubles and a homer. She finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBI. On the mound, Vanegas fired six innings and allowed three earned runs. She picked up the win to finish the season with a 6-9 record. In the second game, she added two hits and knocked in another run to finish the day hitting 5-for-7 with four RBI and four runs scored. Sophomore Ellen Witkowski (Banks, OR/St. Mary's Academy) combined for a 7-for-8 showing at the plate. She scored a pair of runs, drove in four and stole a base.