MARION, Ind. -- Indiana Wesleyan University used an explosive offensive attack on Tuesday to defeat visiting Spring Arbor (Mich.) in both games of a doubleheader at Wildcat Field.

The Wildcats overcame a four run deficit in the first game to win 10-9 in eight innings and then fell behind by seven runs in game two but again came all the way back to win 11-9.

In the opening contest Janessa Guevara (SO/Lathrop, CA) struggled to retire Spring Arbor batters as they pulled ahead 5-1 in the top of the second inning. But Indiana Wesleyan quickly answered in the home half of the second inning with four runs to tie the game 5-5.

The score was tied 8-8 after seven innings of play as the teams headed into extra innings. Spring Arbor scored one run in the top of the eighth inning to lead 9-8 but would leave the bases loaded as Jessica Hull (SR/South Bend, IN) escaped any more damage. Indiana Wesleyan came to bat in the bottom of the eighth and Gabby McIntire (SR/Logansport, IN) started the rally with a one out single. Marissa French (SR/Crawfordsville, IN) was next and she crushed a 1-1 pitch over the center field wall for a walk-off home run.

Indiana Wesleyan had 16 hits in the victory and was led by three hits apiece from Sam Hemming (JR/Russiaville, IN), Sara Kreitzer (FR/Ashland, OH), and McIntire. Hemming and Kreitzer each smacked two doubles while Hemming and McIntire both scored three times. French was 2-for-4 with four RBI and Emily Sell (SR/Clinton, MI) added a 2-for-4 performance with a pair of runs scored.

Hull earned the win in relief as she pitched 5.0 innings. She allowed two runs on three hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

In game two, Indiana Wesleyan scored a run in the home half of the first inning but starting pitcher McIntire was the victim of a porous IWU defense in the second inning. Spring Arbor plated eight runs in the second on six hits and five Indiana Wesleyan errors. McIntire was pulled after 1.2 innings with eight runs allowed, although just one was earned.

The Wildcats responded in the bottom of the second inning with six runs to draw within one at 8-7. The key play in the frame was a 3-run home run off the bat of Hemming.

Following a Cougar run in the third inning, the Wildcats tied the score 9-9 in the fourth inning with RBI hits from Kreitzer and Hull. IWU retook the lead in the fifth inning with two more runs on two out hits by McIntire and French.

The game-tying run for SAU came up to bat in the seventh inning with one out. But Hull forced a ground out and a fly out to end the game for the doubleheader sweep. Hull earned her second win in relief on Tuesday with 5.1 innings of work. She allowed a single run on two hits with three strikeouts.

Kreitzer finished 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBI as IWU outhit SAU 12-8. McIntire, French, and Allison Bexell (SO/Avon, IN) all tallied two hits in the win while McIntire scored four times.

Indiana Wesleyan returns to action at 3 p.m. on Friday with a doubleheader at Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio).