Taylor Walk-Off Eliminates MVNU from Crossroads League Tournament

MARION, Ind. — The Mount Vernon Nazarene University baseball team (33-19) looked to fend off elimination against the top-seeded Taylor Trojans (43-8) in the Crossroad League Baseball Tournament on Friday, May 2.

Brady Lester put MVNU on the board first, smashing a solo shot to right center. The Trojans answered in the bottom of the second with a homer of their own, making the score 1-1. In the third, MVNU reclaimed the lead. Rider Minnick scored Grant Wheeler with an RBI single to right center, and Ryan Willoughby singled through the left side, scoring Lester to put the Cougars up 3-1.

Taylor scratched off a run in the bottom of the frame, but MVNU responded with an RBI single for Wheeler and an RBI groundout from Brennen Nichols, pushing the Cougars' lead to 5-2. Taylor surged in the seventh, scoring four runs to take a 6-5 lead. The Trojan lead didn't last long. In the top of the eighth, Zackary Hoop hit an RBI single to left that scored Kaid Carpenter, tying the game. MVNU reclaimed the lead after Wheeler hit a sac fly that scored Hoop, putting the Cougars up 7-6.

In the bottom of the frame, Taylor tied the game with a fielder's choice. With the game tied at 7-7 in the bottom of the ninth, Taylor hit a single to center field to walk-off and win by a final score of 8-7, eliminating MVNU from the Crossroads League Tournament.

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.