SPRING ARBOR, Mich. - The Marian University baseball team continued its string of solid results as the Knights picked up a critical road split at #RV Spring Arbor University on Tuesday afternoon in Spring Arbor, Mich. The Knights won game one by a 6-4 margin in eight innings before falling in game two, 16-8, to move to 18-16 on the season and 10-4 in the Mid-Central College Conference.

Sophomore lefthander Neil Hackett won his sixth game of the season after he threw an eight-inning complete game in game one. Hackett gave up three earned runs on seven hits in the win. He struck out six batters and walked just one to improve to 6-1 on the season.

The Knights opened the scoring with three in the top of the second before SAU answered with a pair in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to 3-2. MU tallied one more in the fourth to open a two-run lead before the Cougars knotted the score at 4-4 in the bottom of the fifth. Both teams went scoreless until the Knights tallied a pair in the top of the first extra inning to secure the 6-4 victory in eight innings. The defeat was only the second at home for SAU this season.

The win was also the first time the Knights have beaten Spring Arbor in the regular season since April 29, 2006 when the Knights swept a doubleheader from the Cougars at home.

Junior Austin Gibson led the Knights after he went 2-for-4 with a homerun, two runs scored and two RBI. The round-tripper was the first of his MU career. Junior Todd Ungru hit his team-leading eighth bomb of the season as he finished 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Junior Bobby Willis went 3-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI, while sophomore Evan Schludecker went 1-for-1 with two walks, two runs scored and one RBI. Freshman Brett Metcalf and senior Tony Goodpaster each added a hit for the Knights.

The second game started much like the first as the Knights scored a single run in the top of the first and second innings to take a quick 2-0 lead. However, SAU scored six runs in the bottom of the second to open a 6-2 lead before the Knights tallied five in the top of the fourth to take a 7-6 lead.

The Cougars regained the lead with two in the fourth and added three more in the fifth to open an 11-7 lead. MU cut into the lead with one in the sixth, but SAU tallied five more in the bottom of the fifth to take a 16-8 lead and, eventually, pick up the split at home.

The first eight batters in the Knights' lineup had a hit as Schludecker led the Knights after he went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Junior Jake Mullis hit his first career homerun and drove in four runs for MU, which pounded out 11 hits in defeat. Goodpaster also homered and finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. CORRECTION: Senior Patrick Midla hit his first homerun of the season as he pinch-hit for Mullis and hit a grand slam.

The Knights return to Marian University Baseball Field on Thursday afternoon when they play host to MCC-leading Taylor University in a late afternoon doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. and the games can be heard LIVE at www.muknights.com.