NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. – Three extra base hits during a seven-run, seven-hit third inning attack helped guide Manchester University past Hanover College in the nightcap of Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference twinbill Sunday, April 3.

Trailing the Panthers 5-1 after two and a half frames at Spartan Field, junior left fielder Emilee Liston (Cicero, Ind.), sophomore second baseman Laurren Ladwig (Crown Point, Ind.) and freshman shortstop Miranda Boggs (Frankfort, Ind.) roughed up HC starting hurler Anna Phillippe to the tune of a pair of two-baggers (Liston and Boggs) and a round tripper (Ladwig) during a home half of the third that saw 12 MU batters come to home plate. Ladwig's shot, a high drive that cleared the left center field fence and service road behind it on the fly, cut the disadvantage to 5-3. Boggs took aim at a similar feat a few batters later, driving a double off the top of the left field fence to make the count 5-4, and sophomore right fielder Mallorie Jennings (Bourbon, Ind.) made the comeback complete, just as she had earlier in the week during an 8-6 win over Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association member St. Mary's College of Indiana, with a two-run single that got through the left side of the Panthers' infield for a 6-5 MU lead. Another run scored on an error, and Liston made it a two-for-two inning by lacing an RBI single, completing the rally with the home side leading 8-5.

Hanover nicked Black and Gold starting pitcher MacKenzie Williams (Kendallville, Ind.) for two tallies in the fourth, closing the count to 8-7 but couldn't get any closer. The Spartans (12-6 overall, 1-1 HCAC) added an insurance score in the sixth on an RBI single from freshman first baseman Sydney Thompson (Logansport, Ind.) to conclude the 9-7 victory. Freshman third baseman Kate Skeens (Gas City, Ind.) and Liston topped the offensive efforts, as Liston went three-for-four with an RBI and run scored, and Skeens registered a four-for-four outing. Boggs and Thompson added multiple-hit games with two each.

Williams, for the second time in a week, turned in a gritty complete-game effort for her sixth victory. Despite not collecting a strikeout, she weaved in and out of rough spots for seven innings, gaining her seventh complete game effort of the year, a personal single-season best.

The visiting Panthers (6-11 overall, 1-3 HCAC) opened the doubleheader with a 9-0, five-inning victory. HC starter Sydney Griffin was a tough puzzle for MU, allowing only two hits while striking out six. Hanover's offense broke open a nip-and-tuck 2-0 contest with a seven-run fourth inning outburst.

Manchester University closes a current six-game home stand Wednesday, April 6, as Olivet College of Michigan comes to North Manchester for a 3:30 doubleheader. The two games against the Comets begin a span of six games in four days.

NOTES: Liston's rise to the squad's batting average lead continues to be a meteoric one. She concluded a four-game period versus Hanover and St. Mary's, batting .615 with eight hits in 13 at-bats which included a pair of doubles, two RBIs and a .769 slugging percentage. She harbors a run of six multiple-hit outings in her last seven appearances in which her average is up over 120 points (.333-.455) … Ladwig's homer marked the second time in the last three games in which she's clouted a four-bagger. Her third inning long ball in game two also helped her reach a personal career milestone of 50 RBI.