ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. -- On a day when Virginia Wesleyan College's softball team appeared in the national Top 25 rankings for the first time this season, the Marlins bolstered their No. 24 position by posting a pair of wins against the host Bishops of North Carolina Wesleyan College.

The Marlins did it in impressive fashion, shutting out the Bishops twice, 3-0 in the first game and 14-0 in the second contest. The sweep extended Virginia Wesleyan's current winning streak to 17 consecutive games, the second longest in program history.

Virginia Wesleyan outhit the Bishops 23-5, highlighted by a home run each by Kelly Keys (Manassas/Osbourn Park), Tori Higginbotham (Glen Allen/J.R. Tucker) and Season Dailey (Virginia Beach/Frank W. Cox).  Their four-baggers increased VWC's season total to 25, breaking the program record of 23 set by the 2011 team.  Higginbotham's blast was her 10th of the season, the second highest total in VWC history.  It was the second homer of the season for Keys and the first for Dailey.

The outstanding hitting effort was complemented by another strong afternoon by Marlin pitchers Mackenzie Creech (Hillsborough, N.C./Orange) and Kristina Karagiorgis (Ashburn/Briar Woods).  Creech pitched a one-hitter in the 14-0 win, striking out three batters in three innings of the five inning game.  Rookie Mary Shipp (Virginia Beach/First Colonial) pitched the final two innings and allowed nothing.  The win was the 10th in row for Creech, who is now 12-2 on the season and owns a 1.17 earned run average.

Karagiorgis pitched all seven innings in the opening win.  She scattered four hits and a walk, and struck out three batters.  Karagiorgis won her seventh in a row and improved her record to 10-2 and her earned run average to 1.97.

Dailey led all hitting in the sweep with a 3-of-5 showing, with two doubles and a home run, driving in three runs.  Karagiorgis was 4-of-7, with a triple in the second game, Shannon was 3-of-6, with a triple in the first game, and Keys was 3-of-7.

Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition on Saturday, April 6, and Sunday, April 7, in a pair of Old Dominion Athletic Conference doubleheaders on the road.  The Marlins face the WildCats of Randolph College on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. and take on the Hornets of Lynchburg College on Sunday starting at 1:30 p.m.

--AMDG--