INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian University softball team started Mid-Central College Conference play with a sweep of Spring Arbor University. The Knights posted 12-5 and 3-1 victories on Friday afternoon at the Marian University Softball Field. The sweep improved the Knights' record to 17-3 on the season.

In the first contest of the day, freshman Emily Gwaltney went the distance for the Knights in the circle. She struck out six and gave up 10 hits. She also went 2-for-2 and drove in three runs. Gwaltney now holds a 6-2 record on the season.

The Knights found themselves in an unfamiliar spot going into the bottom of the second inning of game one. Spring Arbor managed three runs on the Knights in the second inning and the Knights would have to work from behind. Senior Melissa Coutz got the bats going for the Knights with an RBI-single up the middle to drive in the first run for the Knights. She then came back around for the second run on an error by the catcher.

The bottom of the third would even things up for the Knights. Junior Jessica Slayton scored off of a sacrifice fly by Gwaltney.

MU picked up the offense and really got the bats going in the bottom of the fourth inning when they drove in six runs. Sophomore Brittany Camp hit a triple to right field and drove in two. Sophomore Kelsey Uebelhor would then score on a passed ball. Freshman Helen Rogers stepped up to the plate and crushed an RBI-single to left field. Gwaltney then welcomed a new Spring Arbor pitcher with an RBI-single down the left field line. Coutz would follow in the same fashion with her own RBI-single down the left field line. The Knights would take a 9-3 lead into the fifth inning.

Spring Arbor would post two more runs, but that would not be enough. MU tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to secure the victory. Gwaltney would then hit her team-leading seventh homerun of the season to extend the MU lead. Senior Chelsea Young hit her third double of the season to drive in another run and Uebelhor would finish things off with an RBI-single to right center for the 12-5 victory.

Slayton went 3-for-5 for the Knights, Coutz and Uebelhor both went 3-for-4, and Camp went 2-for-4. Coutz and Camp both drove in two.

In the second contest of the day, the Knights got off to a slow offensive start. They would trail as they went into the bottom of the fifth by a 1-0 margin. Gwaltney stepped up to the plate with one on base and hit a shot over the fence in right center for her eighth homerun of the season and her second of the day.

The Knights added an insurance run to their total in the bottom of the sixth when junior Mallory Ortwein hit an RBI-single to left field. That would be enough for the 3-1 victory.

Senior Sandy Corum pitched all seven innings for the Knights. She only allowed five hits and struck out seven. Corum now posts a 7-1 record on the season.

Ortwein went 3-for-3 for the Knights and drove in one. Gwaltney had two RBI in the Knights' win.

The Knights are back in action on Monday, as they play host to Oakland City University. The first pitch is slated for 2 p.m. Listen LIVE to the twin bill at www.muknights.com.