Josh Estep	Ryan Decker

Estep, a sophomore shortstop from Gahanna, Ohio, was named the American Mideast Conference and NAIA Region IX Player of the Week for the second time this year. The former Gahanna Lincoln High School star batted .667 during the Cougars’ 5-1 week as he extended his hitting streak to nine straight games. Estep had at least one hit in every game and at least one RBI in all but one of the games. His best performance came in MVNU’s second doubleheader with Urbana University during the week on April 21 when he went 5-for-6 at the plate with six RBI and four runs scored on his birthday. He nearly hit for the cycle in the first game as he had a single, double, triple, and then walked in his final at bat.

On the season, Estep is batting .431 and is one of only three players on the team to have started all 40 games. He has registered 11 doubles, one triple, four home runs, 38 runs scored, and a team-high 41 RBI.

Decker, a senior right-handed pitcher from Dover, Pennsylvania, was selected as the National Christian College Athletic Association Player of the Week after posting a 2-0 record on the mound with a 2.70 ERA. The former Dover High School standout began the week by tossing his first career no-hitter in an 11-0 victory at Cedarville University as he struck out three batters and issued two walks. Then, he scattered six hits, one walk, and four runs over five innings with three strikeouts in a 16-4 win over Urbana University.

On the season, Decker has compiled a 5-2 record with a 3.49 ERA. In 49 innings of work, he has struck out 31 batters and issued just 14 walks. Opposing batters are hitting just .259 against him.

MVNU is currently 28-12 overall and 15-5 in the AMC South Division. The Cougars, who received votes in the latest NAIA poll, will host a four-game conference series with the University of Rio Grande this weekend with a doubleheader slated for both Friday and Saturday. Friday’s action is scheduled to get under way at 1:00 p.m.