Cougars Take Two from Maple Leafs on Senior Day

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio. – The Mount Vernon Nazarene University baseball team (22-22, 11-19 CL) hosted the Goshen College Maple Leafs (5-37, 4-26 CL) on Friday, April 17 at the Cougar Baseball Field. 

It was senior day for MVNU as it honored Carter LaPata, Rider Minnick, Reese Willoughby, and Jared Hulburt for their contributions to the MVNU baseball program over the course of their playing careers. 

In game one, errors hurt the Cougars early as two in the first inning allowed a run to score for the Maple Leafs. MVNU tied the game in the bottom of the third when Ryan Willoughby hit a double to left field that scored Minnick. The Cougars claimed their first lead of the day in the fifth inning after Brady Lester hit a sacrifice fly that brought home Tyler Ooten from third. MVNU piled it on the Maple Leafs the remainder of the game, scoring three runs in the sixth and six more in the seventh to win the game in seven innings by a final of 11-1. Reese Willoughby shined on senior day for MVNU as he got the win on the mound. Willoughby allowed three hits and one unearned run in 6.1 innings pitched. He also had eight strikeouts. 

Game two saw MVNU jump out to a 4-0 lead. The Maple Leafs battled back, eventually taking a 5-4 lead in the top of the sixth inning with a single to centerfield that allowed two runs to score. MVNU responded with a big bottom of the sixth. Lester tied the game with an RBI single that scored LaPata, and Kaid Carpenter would later hit Lester home with a single to left, giving MVNU a 6-5 advantage. Grant Peters shut down the top of the seventh and prevented a Goshen comeback. Peters picked up his fourth win on the mound. Hurlburt started the game for the Cougars and pitched 5.2 innings. The senior had six strikeouts and allowed five hits and five runs. 

What's Next 

MVNU will wrap up its series against Goshen College on Monday, April 20 at the Cougar Baseball Field. The last home doubleheader of the season will begin at 1:00 p.m. 

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, 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 2,200 students from 36 states, 1 U.S. commonwealth and 41 foreign countries.