MVNU (11-3, 2-0 AMC South) wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as the Lady Cougars took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning in the first game. Sophomore catcher Caitlin Murphy drove in a run with an RBI-single, while the second run scored as the result of an error.

After the visiting Blue Knights (7-8, 0-2 AMC South) trimmed the lead to 2-1 on a run-scoring double by Linsey Manning in the top of the fourth inning, MVNU answered with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to build a commanding 6-1 lead. Sophomore outfielder Leslie Banichar plated the first run with a single, and junior third baseman Karly Clay (left) drove in the other three runs with a bases-loaded double to left center.

That lead would hold up as junior right-hander Candace White (5-2) blanked Urbana the rest of the way to notch the complete-game victory. White allowed just four hits, one walk, and one run over seven innings with eight strikeouts.

Meanwhile, Tami Lasley (3-3) took the loss for the Blue Knights as she gave up seven hits, two walks, and six runs (only one earned) over 3.2 innings with two strikeouts. Danielle Finley tossed the final 2.1 innings and allowed just two hits and one walk with one strikeout.

Clay finished 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI to pace the Lady Cougars’ offense. Murphy also added two hits, and sophomore shortstop Tasha Konkle drew three walks and added a single in the lead-off spot. Manning had two of Urbana’s four hits.

The Blue Knights got on the scoreboard first in the second game when Manning doubled to lead off the top of the second inning and came around to score on a single by Tami Lasley to go in front 1-0.

MVNU knotted the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning when freshman second baseman Kristin Kurelic reached on an error with one out and promptly stole second base. One out later, she came around to score on a double by Banichar (right).

The score remained tied 1-1 until the bottom of the fifth inning when the Lady Cougars used three hits and a walk to plate three runs and take a 4-1 lead. Banichar drove in the first run with a one-out single, while sophomore designated player Staci Graham plated the other two runs with a two-out, two-run single.

Urbana threatened in the top of the seventh inning with a lead-off single by Erin Dowdell. However, after she was sacrificed to second, she tried to steal third base and was cut down by Murphy. That proved to be a big play as Brittany Heunen followed with a two-out triple to rightfield. She was stranded there, though, when Jackie Masur grounded out to first to end the game.

Senior right-hander Kristin Eyerman (left) (6-0) remained unbeaten on the season as she scattered six hits, three walks, and one run over seven innings. She finished with six strikeouts to move into second place on the school’s career list with 285 to move past former Lady Cougar standout Heather Clark (281).

Katie Cramer (2-3) took the loss for the Blue Knights as she allowed six hits, two walks, and four runs over 4.2 innings with one strikeout. Jessie Swinderman tossed the final 1.1 innings and struck out three batters and gave up one hit.

Banichar and Clay both went 2-for-3 to lead MVNU, while six different players recorded a hit for Urbana.

“These were two nice wins today,” said MVNU head coach Jeana Howald. “We came up with some key hits when we needed them and were able to maintain our leads once we got them. We also got two solid pitching performances today.”

The Lady Cougars will look to continue their winning ways when MVNU will travel to perennial conference contender Shawnee State University on Tuesday for another AMC South Division twinbill that will get under way at 3:00 p.m.