KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Marian University softball team swept its last day of play in Kissimmee, Fla., on Saturday. After a two-day rest, including a pair of rained-out games; the Knights swept through Brewton-Parker College (Ga.), 3-0, and Ashford University (Iowa), 8-0. The Knights close out their spring trip with a 7-1 overall record.

In the first contest of the day the Knights shutout Brewton-Parker, 3-0. The Knights' offense was  unable to get things started until the fourth inning when freshman Emily Gwaltney (Bargersville, Ind./Center Grove) led off the inning with a double. She would score on an RBI-single by senior Chelsea Young (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg).

Both junior Jessica Slayton (Indianapolis, Ind./Decatur Central) and freshman Helen Rogers (Avon, Ind./Avon) also had singles in the inning  for MU. Junior Mallory Ortwein (Anderson, Ind./Anderson) brought Slayton in with an RBI-single, and senior Melissa Coutz (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard) had an RBI-sacrifice fly to score Rogers and put the Knights up 3-0.

The Knights, with a solid effort in the circle by Gwaltney, held Brewton-Parker scoreless to hang on to the 3-0 victory.

Slayton went 2-for-3 for the Knights and Gwaltney got the win after she allowed just four hits and struck out seven.

The second contest of the day against Ashford was a one-sided offensive outing. Slayton started the MU offense with a lead-off single to left. Four more Knights would run the bases including Rogers, Ortwein, Gwaltney, Coutz, and sophomore Jillian Ayres (Columbus, Ind./North). The Knights would lead 6-0 heading into the second inning.

MU would see its next scoring opportunity in the fourth when Gwaltney hit a short single to the shortstop and was brought around by an RBI-single to left from senior Angie Such (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) to increase the lead to seven.

In the bottom of the fifth sophomores Elizabeth Campbell (Avon, Ind./Avon) and Emily Pusti (Fort Wayne, Ind./Snider) would connect for the game-winning run. Campbell hit a long double to center before Pusti stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded, on an Ashford error and a walk, and nearly cleared the bases with one swing. However, the sacrifice fly was enough to bring Campbell around and give the Knights the 8-0 victory in five innings.

Gwaltney went 3-for-3 with one RBI, while sophomore Kelsey Uebelhor (St. Anthony, Ind./Forest Park) drove in two runs.

Senior Sandy Corum (Anderson, Ind./Anderson) got the win for the Knights after she threw two shutout innings and struck out three. Freshman Amy Tamer (Indianapolis, Ind./Scecina) struck out four in two innings of relief, while junior Kristi Roth (Speedway, Ind./Speedway) closed the game with a scoreless, hitless fifth inning.

The Knights will face Calumet College of St. Joseph at the Marian University softball field on Tuesday. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.