In the first game, Utica (3-4) committed two errors in the bottom of the fourth inning that led to two unearned runs for MVNU (5-3) as the Lady Cougars broke a scoreless deadlock and took a 2-0 lead. Sophomore catcher Caitlin Murphy stole home as part of a double steal for one of the runs.

The lead grew to 4-0 for MVNU in the bottom of the fifth inning on an RBI-single by sophomore outfielder Leslie Banichar (left) and run-scoring triple by Murphy.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, sophomore first baseman Michelle Gastin singled and scored all the way from first base on a double by junior third baseman Karly Clay as the Lady Cougars extended their lead to 5-0.

The Pioneers avoided a shutout in the top of the seventh inning when Abby Drew drove in a run with two outs to make the final score 5-1.

Senior right-hander Kristin Eyerman (3-0) earned the victory on the mound as she scattered five hits, three walks, one hit batsman, and one run over seven innings with six strikeouts.

Kristin Levin (2-2) took the loss for Utica as she allowed four hits, two hit batsmen, and four runs over five innings with five strikeouts. Madison Staie worked the final inning and gave up three hits and one run with two strikeouts.

Offensively, Banichar and freshman second baseman Kristin Kurelic (right) both with 2-for-3 with Banichar registering two stolen bases and Kurelic swiping one of her own. MVNU recorded five stolen bases as a team in the game.

In the second game, the Lady Cougars scored in all but the first inning on the way to a 10-0 victory over Macalester (5-5). Banichar got the scoring under way in the top of the second inning with a two-out, two-run double to left center to vie MVNU a 2-0 lead.

Junior outfielder Whitney Clark drove in a run with a two-out infield single in the top of the third inning, and sophomore designated player Staci Graham made it 5-0 in the top of the fourth inning with a two-run double down the leftfield line.

Then, in the top of the fifth inning, the Lady Cougars took advantage of three errors by the Scots to score five runs with four of the runs being unearned. Banichar had an RBI-single and there were two other run-scoring ground outs in the frame as MVNU’s lead grew to 10-0.

That was more than enough run support for junior right-hander Candace White (left) (2-2), who registered her first shutout of the year. She allowed just five hits and no walks while striking out three batters.

Olivia Abbott (4-3) suffered the loss for Macalester as she allowed 12 hits, two walks, and 10 runs (only four earned) over five innings with one strikeout. The Scots committed five errors in the game to account for the six unearned runs.

Banichar finished 3-for-3 in the game with three RBI, while Murphy and Kurelic both had two hits and scored two runs each.

The Lady Cougars will close out their annual spring trip with two more games on Friday. MVNU will face Geneseo (N.Y.) College at 9:00 a.m. and Spring Arbor (Mich.) University at 1:00 p.m.