In the first contest, senior right-hander Candace White (7-8) allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out seven batters as she went all seven innings and notched her second shutout of the season and the sixth of her career.

Meanwhile, MVNU (8-10, 5-5 AMC) got the only run it would need in the top of the first inning. With two outs, junior catcher Caitlin Murphy (left) doubled to leftfield and came around to score on an RBI-single by junior first baseman Michelle Gastin to give the Lady Cougars a 1-0 lead.

In the top of the second inning, MVNU tacked on four more runs to take control of the game as the Lady Cougars registered five hits in the frame. Murphy had a two-run double in the inning, while Gastin and senior third baseman Karly Clay both added RBI-singles as MVNU built a 5-0 cushion.

That would prove to be all the scoring in the game as White and the Lady Cougars’ defense did the rest to post the victory in the first game.

Emily Young (6-6) suffered the loss for Cedarville (11-23, 1-9 AMC) as she gave up 11 hits, one walk, and five runs over seven innings with three strikeouts.

Gastin led MVNU by going 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Murphy and sophomore second baseman Kristin Kurelic added two hits apiece. Meanwhile, Jenna Fox went 3-for-3 for the Lady Jackets to account for all but one of their hits in the contest.

Pitching was the story of game two as well as sophomore lefty Stephanie Burlew (1-1) (below) not only notched the first win of her collegiate career - she tossed a three-hit shutout in the process. She finished the game allowing just three hits and three walks over seven innings with one strikeout.

The Lady Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when junior shortstop Tasha Konkle led off with a double to left center, moved to third on a ground out by freshman outfielder MacKenzie Shaw, and came around to score on a two-out, RBI-single by Kurelic through the left side of the infield.

Cedarville mounted what would prove to be its biggest threat of the game in the bottom of the second inning when Sarah Hoffman led off the inning with a double to leftfield and was sacrificed to third. However, Murphy picked her off third base for the second out of the inning to successfully short-circuit the scoring threat despite a walk and a single that followed in the inning before the third out was recorded.

MVNU extended its lead to 4-0 with three runs in the top of the third inning. With two outs, senior outfielder Whitney Clark lined a two-run single up the middle. Junior outfielder Leslie Banichar followed with an RBI-triple to rightfield as the Lady Cougars padded their lead.

The score remained that way until the top of the seventh inning when MVNU tacked on one more insurance run when senior Kylie Rupert plated an unearned run with a pinch-hit, RBI-single up the middle to make the score 5-0.

Leah Baker took the loss for Cedarville as she gave up 11 hits and five runs (three earned) over 6.1 innings with two strikeouts. Mallory White recorded the final two outs and allowed one hit.

Offensively, Konkle led the Lady Cougars by going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles while also scoring two runs. Kurelic added two hits for MVNU.

The Lady Cougars will return to action on Friday when MVNU will travel to Walsh University for another AMC doubleheader that is slated to get under way at 1:00 p.m. Then, the team will wrap up its busy week with another conference doubleheader at Carlow (Pa.) University at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.