URBANA, Ohio - After an eight-day layoff that saw the cancellation of a pair of doubleheaders, the Marian College softball team picked up a non-conference sweep over Urbana University on Thursday afternoon.

 

The Knights improved to 29-7 on the season and are 19-5 in non-conference play. The wins were the seventh and eighth straight for the Knights.

 

In game one, Urbana jumped out quickly on the Knights by scoring a pair in the bottom of the first to seize a 2-0 lead. The Knights got those two back in the top of the third to tie the score, 2-2.

 

After sophomore Jessica Slayton (Indianapolis/Decatur Central) singled to open the inning, battery-mate and classmate Chelsea Bell (Indianapolis/Franklin Central) hit her second home run of the season over the center field wall.

 

The Knights took a 5-2 lead in the top of the fourth as senior Amanda Teagardin (Indianapolis/Southport) and junior Melissa Coutz (Indianapolis/Bishop Chatard) scored on a two-run double by junior Chelsea Young (Brownsburg, Indiana/Brownsburg). Young scored on an RBI-single by Slayton to stake the Knights the three-run lead.

 

They added two more in the top of the fifth as Teagardin hit her second home run of the season, a two-run shot, to left center field. The Knights had a 7-2 lead and, with senior Heather Pieper (Greenwood, Indiana/Greenwood) in the circle, it was more than enough.

 

Urbana scored a pair in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to three, 7-4, but a two-run single by Bell gave the Knights a 9-4 lead and allowed Pieper the opportunity to close out the ballgame.

 

She struck out three of the last seven batters to seal the victory. Pieper improved to 15-3 on the season after she threw her 14th complete game, scattered 10 hits, and struck out six.

 

Bell went 2-for-4 with four RBI and a run scored to lead the Knights. Slayton and Young each went 3-for-4 with an RBI while Teagardin drove in a pair on two hits.

 

Marian College got behind early in game two as well after Urbana was the first on the board in the third inning. They took a 1-0 lead after a trio of singles.

 

The Knights finally had their inning in the top of the fifth as they scored four runs to take a 4-1 lead. Bell ripped a single and senior Samantha Hypes (Plainfield, Indiana/Plainfield) followed with a double to put two runners on with one out.

 

Sophomore Mallory Ortwein (Anderson, Indiana/Anderson) brought home the first run with an RBI-single. Teagardin followed with one of her own, and Young knocked home a run with a fielder's choice. Freshman Kelsey Uebelhor (St. Anthony, Indiana/Forest Park) brought home the final run after she drew a bases loaded walk.

 

Junior Sandy Corum (North Vernon, Indiana/Jennings County) surrendered a two-run home run in the sixth, but closed out her 10th victory of the season. She threw her seventh complete game of the season, scattered seven hits, allowed three runs, and struck out six to improve to 10-0 on the campaign.

 

Ortwein went 3-for-4 with an RBI to lead the Knights. Hypes and Bell each had two hits.

 

The Knights hit the road on Saturday when they head to Spring Arbor University for a vital Mid-Central College Conference showdown. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.