Cougars Sweep Day One of Series Against Maple Leafs
GOSHEN, Ind. — The Mount Vernon Nazarene University baseball team (29-15, 17-13 CL) hit the road on Wednesday, April 16, traveling to J. Harold 'Sarge' Yoder Baseball Field for their final Crossroads League road series of the regular season against the Goshen College Maple Leafs (6-32, 5-25 CL).
Game 1 Summary:
Brady Lester started the scoring off by ripping a double to left center, driving in two runs as Rider Minnick and Grant Wheeler crossed the plate. Later, Ryan Willoughby followed with a triple to left, bringing Lester home and extending MVNU's lead to 3-0 by the end of the top of the third. Goshen answered with an unearned run in the bottom half, cutting the deficit to 3-1. In the top of the fourth inning, Lester reached on an error by the first baseman, allowing Carter LaPata to score and extend MVNU's lead to 4-1.
The Maple Leafs offense came alive in the bottom of the fifth inning, putting up four runs with a sacrifice fly and three RBIs on a pair of doubles to grab a 5-4 lead over MVNU.
Minnick leveled the score at 5-5 in the top of the sixth with a double to left center, bringing Grant Moore home. In the top of the seventh, MVNU pulled ahead 7-5 after Wheeler drove in Alejandro Delgado with a fielder's choice and Moore executed a sacrifice bunt to plate Zackary Hoop.
Goshen responded in the bottom of the ninth, scoring two runs to even the game at 7-7 and force extra innings. In the top of the tenth inning, Willoughby reached base due to a throwing error by the pitcher on a bunt, allowing Lester to score, giving MVNU an 8-7 lead. MVNU won the game by a final score of 8-7 in game one.
Maxwell Donawa earned the win in relief, improving his season record to 2-2. He pitched 5.0 innings, allowing five hits, two runs (both earned), one walk, and recorded six strikeouts.
Game 2 Summary:
MVNU struck first in game two as Minnick drew a walk and Moore scored on the wild pitch, giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead. The Maple Leafs offense erupted in the bottom of the first inning, plating five runs on an RBI triple, a two-run double, and a pair of RBI singles to take a 5-1 lead over MVNU after one.
MVNU delivered a big response in the top of the fifth inning, beginning with a Hoop RBI single that brought home LaPata. Minnick followed with a clutch two-run double, driving in Wheeler and Hoop to cut the deficit to 5-4. Kaid Carpenter then tied the game with an RBI single that plated Minnick, and Moore came around to score on a throwing error by the center fielder, giving MVNU a 6-5 lead.
The runs kept rolling in for MVNU in the top of the sixth inning, as Moore launched a two-run homer to right field, extending the Cougars' lead to 8-5. In the top of the seventh inning, Hoop had a SAC bunt that scored Willoughby to make the score 9-5 in favor of MVNU. Goshen added runs in the bottom of the seventh, but MVNU held strong to win the game by a final score of 9-7.
What's Next:
The Cougars will conclude their series on Thursday, April 17, with their final road doubleheader of the regular season at Goshen College. First pitch for game one is slated for 12:00 p.m.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, four-year, intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students, and working adults. With a 327-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth, and service to community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education both in-seat and online to nearly 2,100 students from 33 states and 26 foreign countries.