GAME 1 STATS  l  GAME 2 STATS

INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian University softball team swept Hanover College on Wednesday and improved its record to 15-3 on the season.

MU took the first game in five innings, 8-0, and finished the Panthers off in seven the second game, 9-4.

Junior Kristi Roth went the distance in the circle for the Knights. She allowed only two hits and struck out five. Roth now holds a 2-0 record on the season.

The Knights got things started in the second inning when freshman Emily Gwaltney hit a solo shot to right-center for her sixth homerun of the season. The Knights didn't stop there, though. Junior Mallory Ortwein hit an RBI-single to left to bring in another run for the Knights. Ortwein came back around as fellow junior Jessica Slayton singled to left for the RBI.

MU continued itsoffensive surge in the bottom of the third when senior Melissa Coutz hit a two-run homerun to give the Knights the 5-0 lead. Just two batters later, Ortwein stepped back up to the plate and a solo shot to put the Knights up by a, 6-0, margin.

The Knights finished the game off in the bottom of the fourth when sophomore Emily Pusti hit an RBI-double to right-center. Pusti would later tag and score off an RBI-sacrifice by Coutz.

Ortwein and Gwaltney went 2-for-2 for the Knights, with Ortwein bringing in two and Gwaltney one.

In the second contest of the day, Hanover was able to get the bats going, but the Knights earned the 9-4 victory.

Freshman Amy Tamer got the win for the Knights in 5.1 innings pitched. Tamer struck out three while allowing seven hits. Kristi Roth earned the save for the Knights in 1.2 innings of work. She struck out two and allowed no hits.

The Knights had to come-from-behind in their half of the first inning after the Panthers took the early 1-0 lead. MU would answer and then some. Coutz brought in the first run of the game for the Knights on an RBI-single to right-center. Senior Chelsea Young stepped up to the plate and with a swing of the bat brought herself back around on a two-run RBI-triple to right field and managed to score after she was waved home on a throwing error by the Panthers. The Knights would lead 4-1 at the end of the first inning.

In the bottom of the third, sophomore Brittany Camp hit an RBI-single to right field to add to the Knights lead and sophomore Jillian Ayres brought around Coutz on a sacrifice fly for the sixth run of the game for the Knights.

MU would hold the Panthers, despite three more runs between the fifth and sixth innings. The Knights would take a 6-4 lead into the bottom of the sixth before freshman Brandy Roth hit an RBI-single to add to the Knights lead. Coutz would bring in the last run of the game for the Knights on a single up the middle to give the Knights the 9-4 victory.

Coutz and Camp each had two hits for the Knights, with Coutz driving in two. Young also had two RBI for MU.

The Knights are back in action on Friday as they Mid-Central College Conference play by hosting Spring Arbor University. The first pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m. The twin bill will air LIVE at www.muknights.com.