INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian College baseball team continued its 10-game home stand with a doubleheader sweep over the University of Miami-Hamilton on Thursday evening.

 

The Knights defeated the Harriers, 11-6 and 8-6, to win their third and fourth straight games and improved to 9-11 on the season.

 

The Knights opened game one with a pair in the first inning on an RBI-double by sophomore Todd Ungru (Madison, Indiana/Shawe Memorial) and an RBI-single by senior Kyle Cox (Indianapolis/Butler) gave the Knights a 2-0 lead.

 

The Harriers answered in the second with two to tie the game, 2-2, before the Knights scored six in the bottom of the third to take an 8-2 lead.

 

An RBI-single by junior Tony Goodpaster (Avon, Indiana/Wabash) started the scoring. Sophomore Bobby Willis (North Vernon, Indiana/Jennings County) brought a run home after he was plunked with the bases loaded and freshman Jon Wade (Avon, Indiana/Avon) beat out a bunt to knock in the third run of the inning.

 

An RBI-fielder's choice by senior Chad Morris (Whitestown, Indiana/Vermont) was followed by a two-run single by junior Mike Keltz (Avon, Indiana/Avon) to cap the six-run rally and give the Knights the 8-2 lead.

 

The Harriers answered with four of their own to cut their deficit to two, 8-6, but the Knights scored three more over the final two innings to secure the 11-6 win. Sophomore Cory Emmons (Indianapolis/Lutheran) and Goodpaster each singled home a run and Willis knocked in his second run by getting hit by a pitch for the second time with the bases loaded.

 

Freshman Neil Hackett (LaPorte, Indiana/LaPorte) threw five strong innings and gave up just one earned run to improve to 2-1 on the season. Sophomores Aaron Wilder (Decatur, Indiana/Bellmont) and Jake Mullis (Coatesville, Indiana/North Putnam) each threw an inning of scoreless relief.

 

Goodpaster led the way in game one after he went 3-for-4 with two RBI. Wade, Ungru, and Cox each had two hits for the Knights.

 

Game two started much differently as the Knights and Harriers exchanged runs in the first inning. Ungru, who was the starting pitcher, ripped an RBI-double to tie the game, 1-1, after one inning.

 

The Harriers posted three runs in the top of the fourth to take a 4-1 lead, but the Knights blew the game wide open with a seven-run fifth that was capped by a three-run double off the bat of junior Patrick Midla (Brownsburg, Indiana/Bethesda Christian).

 

Ungru was staked an 8-4 lead, but the Harriers made things interesting with a two-run sixth to cut the lead to 8-6. However, Goodpaster came on to close out the game in the seventh to secure his first save.

 

Ungru threw six innings, allowed five earned runs, and struck out one to improve to 2-1 on the season. He also helped his own cause by leading the Knights at the plate. He went 2-for-2 with an RBI and his fourth double of the season.

 

Midla had one hit, in a pinch-hitting role, and drove in three runs for the Knights.

 

Marian College closes out its 10-game home stand on Sunday when it hosts Davenport University in a doubleheader at Marian College Baseball Field. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m., and the game can be heard LIVE at www.marian.edu/athletics.