CEDARVILLE, Ohio - The Marian College softball team continued its strong start to the 2009 campaign as the Knights posted a sweep on the back of strong pitching and timely hitting.

 

The Knights defeated Cedarville University, 4-0 and 3-0, to improve to 10-4 on the season.

 

Senior Heather Pieper (Greenwood, Indiana/Greenwood), the reigning MCC Pitcher of the Week, posted her sixth victory of the season in a complete game, two-hit shutout. Her record improved to 6-2 on the season. It was her fifth complete game of the season.

 

Pieper received some help in the form of sophomore Mallory Ortwein (Anderson, Indiana/Anderson). Ortwein hit a three-run home run in the top of the first inning to stake Pieper the 3-0 lead and she never had to look back. The round-tripper was her team-leading fourth of the campaign.

 

The Knights posted one more insurance run on an RBI-single by senior Amanda Teagardin (Indianapolis/Southport) to give Pieper the 4-0 win.

 

Ortwein finished 1-for-2 with a home run and three RBI while Teagardin finished 1-for-3 with an RBI.

 

The second game was much of the same for the Knights as strong pitching and timely hitting led them to a 3-0 win and a twinbill sweep.

 

Junior Sandy Corum (North Vernon, Indiana/Jennings County) matched Pieper with a complete game, two-hit shutout of her own. It was her first victory of the season as she struck out a season-high 11 batters.

 

The timely hitting came in the form of an RBI-single by freshman Jillian Ayres (Columbus, Indiana/North), an RBI-double by Ortwein, and and RBI-triple by freshman Kelsey Uebelhor (St. Anthony, Indiana/Forest Park) that sealed the 3-0 win.

 

Ayres finished the game 1-for-3 while Ortwein went 1-2 each with an RBI. Uebelhor finished 1-for-4 with her first career triple and an RBI.

 

The Knights are now 10-4 on the season and are looking forward to opening their new stadium with a doubleheader on Saturday.

 

Marian College battles Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College on the diamond at Marian College Softball Field at 1 p.m. The game can be heard LIVE at www.marian.edu/athletics.