SPRINGFIELD, Ohio -- The Big Red jumped out to a 5-0 lead against Wittenberg and held off the Tigers in the second half en route to a 7-5 North Coast Athletic Conference victory on Wednesday night.

Denison's Ted Douglass was the offensive star on this night as he accounted for four of the team's seven goals. He got things started with a goal 1:04 seconds into the contest when Clay Wawner found him open for his first score of the night. The second Denison goal came off the stick of Nick Jacobs and Wawner got in the act with 11:40 left in the first quarter. Ten minutes would go by but Chris Boehl would find Douglass for his second goal 1:19 before the end of the opening quarter.

In the second period, Douglass struck again at the 7:00 mark. His hat trick goal was assisted by freshman Nate Hall.

The Tigers got on the scoreboard for the first time with 4:40 left in the first half via a James Hunter unassisted goal. Cory Windle followed Hunters goal two minutes later cutting the Big Red lead to 5-2.

Douglass scored his fourth and final goal just before the half, sending the Big Red into the break with a 6-2 advantage.

In the second half DU would only muster one goal thanks to Hall's third quarter score but it would be enough as they held on for the two-goal win.

Denison took 25 shots compared to 22 for Wittenberg. Big Red goalie Alex Baruch finished with eight saves and Jacobs was 7-of-11 in face off opportunities. DU was 0-for-2 in extra man chances and Wittenberg was 1-for-2.

Denison will travel to Wooster for a 3:30 p.m. start on Saturday, April 1.

2006-03-30