GAME ONE STATS I GAME TWO STATS

INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian University softball team picked up where they left off in Kissimmee, Fla., with a sweep of its first home series on Tuesday. The Knights dominated Calumet-St. Joseph, 12-4 and 10-0, in two five-inning contests. The wins improved the Knights record to 9-1 on the season.

The Knights saw an unfamiliar first inning when the Crimson Wave was able to plate three runs in their half of the inning. Over the next three innings, the Knights were able to shrink the deficit and, eventually, take a 6-3 lead after three innings.

Freshman Helen Rogers (Avon, Ind./Avon) started things off with an RBI-single to right field in the first. Senior Chelsea Young (Brownsburg, Ind.) hit a lead-off double in the second inning for the Knights, before crossing the plate for MU's second run.

The Knights then managed three runs in the bottom of the third including a passed ball that scored Rogers and an error, which scored sophomore Emily Pusti (Fort Wayne, Ind./Snider). Senior Angie Such (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) ended the inning with an RBI-single to left just before the Knights were caught trying to advance to third.

MU would only allow one more run before its offense would dominate the rest of the contest. Freshman Emily Gwaltney (Bargersville, Ind./Center Grove), who was the MCC Pitcher of the Week, hit her first career homerun. She made it a three-run homerun to give the Knights the 8-4 lead going into the fifth inning.

Junior Chelsea Bell (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central) hit an RBI-single to center and the Knights finished things off with a two-run triple from Rogers to give the Knights a 12-4 victory in five innings.

Senior Sandy Corum (Anderson, Ind./Anderson) got the win for the Knights in the circle after she went four innings, struck out four, and allowed three hits. Freshman Amy Tamer (Indianapolis, Ind./Scecina) struck out one to finish the game in the fifth.

Bell went 3-for-3 for the Knights with two RBI, while Gwaltney and Rogers each drove in three.

In the second contest of the day, the Knights outscored the Crimson Wave, 10-0, for another victory in five.

The Knights' offense exploded in the third inning when they tallied five runs off of three hits.

Freshman Brandy Roth (Speedway, Ind./Speedway) scored the Knights' first run off an error by the third baseman. Gwaltney, who was also the game's pitcher, stepped up to the plate and knocked another one out of the park for the Knights, this time for a grand slam.

MU would take a 5-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning until the bases were, once again, loaded for Gwaltney. Gwaltney hit a long RBI-single to center and kept the bases loaded for senior Melissa Coutz (Indianapolis, Ind./Indianapolis). With a swing of the bat, Coutz cleared the bases with the second grand slam of the day for the Knights to give them the 10-0 victory.

Gwaltney struck out six and allowed only two hits in five innings. She now has a 3-1 record on the season.

Junior Jessica Slayton (Indianapolis, Ind./Decatur Central) went 2-for-3 for the Knights. Coutz ended the game 1-for-2 with four RBI and Gwaltney finished 2-for-3 with five RBI.

The Knights are back in action on Friday when they host Cedarville University in a doubleheader at the Marian University Softball Field. First pitch is slated for 3 pm.