INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The Marian College baseball team hosted Armed Forces Day on Thursday when Indiana Wesleyan paid a visit for an MCC doubleheader. The Knights and Wildcats split with game one a 2-1 pitcher's duel. Game two provided a late scare, but the Knights prevailed, 6-5, in front of the colorguard from the Indiana National Guard.

With the win, head coach Kurt Guldner eclipsed the 400-win milestone. His career record stands at 400-294-4 (.576) in his 14th season at the helm of Marian College baseball.

Pitching dominated the storyline in game one. Junior Steve Swain (Danville, Ind./Indiana Tech) dueled with IWU's Brandon Moore, but came out on the losing end of a 2-1 defeat.

The Wildcats opened the scoring in the top of the second on an unearned run to take a 1-0 lead. The Knights responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the third.

Senior Derek Malikian (Charlottesville, Va./New River CC) earned a two-out walk and was moved to second on a single by senior Joel Strode (Canton, Ill./Canton). Senior Jason Moon (Anderson, Ind./Anderson) hit a rope up the middle to score Malikian to knot the game, 1-1.

Swain and Moore battled from the fourth through the sixth as Swain gave up just three hits and Moore was able to shut the Knight offense down.

However, in the top of the seventh IWU brought home the eventual winning run as the Knights threatened in the bottom half by loading the bases with one out. But, the Knights could not bring the tying run home as they fell, 2-1.

Swain scattered six hits and gave up just one earned run over a complete game outing, his second of the season.

Game two started off in much the same way. The Knights took a quick lead in the bottom of the first.

Senior Bryston Bangel (Indianapolis, Ind./Decatur Central) singled and stole second. He moved to third on a ground out and was brought home as Strode reached on an error to stake freshman Patrick Midla (Indianapolis, Ind./Bethesda Christian) a 1-0 lead.

The Wildcats responded in the top half of the third with a run to tie the game, 1-1, but the Knights, in the bottom of the fourth, put four on the Wildcats to take a 5-1 lead.

Moon singled to open the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Freshman Mike Keltz (Avon, Ind./Avon) reached on a singled up the middle to put runners on first and third with none out. A wild pitch brought Moon home and, after a walk to sophomore Josh Terrell (Richmond, Va./Danville JC), sophomore Chad Morris (Whitestown, Ind./Lebanon) hit an RBI-single to left to score Keltz. Senior Cody Andrew (Hanover, Ind./Southeastern) followed with a long RBI-single to right to plate Terrell.

With two on and none out, junior Josh Gerald (Frankfort, Ind./Frankfort) sacrificed the runners to second and third with a bunt. Morris and Andrew each advanced on a wild pitch with Morris scoring the final run of the inning.

Midla held the Wildcats scoreless in the fourth and fifth and received an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth.

After Keltz was hit by a pitch and Terrell walked, Morris grounded into a fielder's choice and moved Keltz to third. Andrew walked to load the bases and senior Jeff Brunette (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard) walked in Morris to stake Midla a 6-1 lead.

The Wildcats provided some drama late as they posted four in the top of the seventh, but, with the tying run on third, a popup to Midla sealed the 6-5 victory. The win is the first for Midla and was his second complete game outing of the season.

Moon and Andrew each had three hits to lead the Knights in the twinbill. Strode and Bangel also added two hits for Marian.