In the first game of the day, sixth-seeded Walsh University (24-28) snapped a seven-game losing skid by upsetting top-seeded Mount Vernon Nazarene University (35-13) 3-1 in a pitchers’ duel between the Cavaliers’ Andy Schon and junior lefty Levi Curry of MVNU.

Walsh took advantage of an error by the Cougars’ defense to score an unearned run in the top of the first inning, but MVNU responded with an unearned run of their own in the bottom of the third inning to knot the score at 1-1. Jason Pettigrew had the RBI for the Cavaliers, while junior third baseman Richey Burgos drove in the Cougars’ run with an infield single.

The score remained that way until the top of the seventh inning as both Schon and Curry were in control. Then, in the top of the seventh inning, MVNU committed two costly errors that allowed two more unearned runs to score as Walsh built a 3-1 lead. Mike Suliks drove in one run for the Cavaliers with a sacrifice fly, while the other came in on a fielder’s choice by Duston Walter.

That would prove to be enough run support for Schon (7-5). He allowed just four hits, one walk, and one unearned run over nine innings while striking out 11 Cougars to pick up the victory.

Curry (7-3) was the hard-luck loser for MVNU as he gave up just five hits, three walks, and three unearned runs over nine innings with six strikeouts.  GAME ONE BOXSCORE

The second game of the day featured another nail-biter as second-seeded Geneva (Pa.) College (29-18) edged fifth-seeded University of Rio Grande (24-26-1) 2-1. The Golden Tornadoes got both of their runs on sacrifice flies - one in the bottom of the fourth inning and one in the bottom of the fifth inning - to take a 2-0 lead.

The Redmen pulled within 2-1 when Kenta Sato came around to scoring on a throwing error by the Geneva defense in the top of the eighth inning as Rio Grande registered three hits in the frame.

However, the Golden Tornadoes held on for the win as Justin Montgomery came on to get the final outs on a caught stealing and a ground out to first base to nail down the win and earn his eighth save. Dave Foss (7-2) started and scattered nine hits, two walks, and one run over 8.1 innings with two strikeouts.

Nate Chau (7-5) took the loss in his final career appearance on the mound despite allowing just eight hits, one walk, and two runs over eight innings with five strikeouts.

Dan DeMarco led Geneva by going 3-for-4, while Matt Colella was 2-for-4 with a triple. Kyle Wells and Michael Warren each had two hits apiece for Rio Grande.  GAME TWO BOXSCORE

The third game of the day was a back-and-forth see-saw affair between third-seeded Ohio Dominican University (39-11) and fourth-seeded Malone College (23-25) with the Panthers, who are ranked 12th in the latest NAIA poll, pulling out an 8-6 victory in a game that featured eight errors, four lead changes, and three ties.

Ohio Dominican took advantage of five errors by the Pioneers’ defense and drove in five of its eight runs with two outs to post the victory. Josh Brown had a big game by going 3-for-5 with three RBI, while B.J. Packo and Jose Avila each had two hits. Phil Franks also hit a long two-run home run and scored three times.

Bob Dubovec and Zach Zifzal each had three hits apiece for Malone, while Scott McIlvain and Jon Lutton added two hits each, but it was not enough for the Pioneers, who stranded 13 baserunners in the game.

Ryan Robowski (3-0) picked up the victory with one scoreless inning of relief as the fourth of Ohio Dominican’s five pitchers in the game, while Roland Rodriguez nailed down the win with a scoreless ninth inning to notch his 16th save. Matt Koblens, Ryan Vaughn, and Carter Garnon each pitched for the Pioneers.

Todd Liberatore (1-3) suffered the loss for Malone as he gave up two runs in 1.2 innings of work despite not allowing a hit. Sam Campitella started and worked 6.2 innings for the Pioneers.  GAME THREE BOXSCORE

The fourth game of the day was another thriller that featured a comeback as MVNU stayed alive in the tournament with a 7-6 come-from-behind victory over Rio Grande in 10 innings to eliminate the Redmen.

Rio Grande built a 6-3 lead after six innings and it looked as if the Cougars might not survive even the first day of the double-elimination tournament. Brad Konrad led the Redmen’s surge by going 3-for-5 with three RBI, while Chau went 3-for-5 and Wells added two hits.

However, MVNU strung together five hits in the top of the eighth inning and scored three runs to knot the score at 6-6. Junior outfielder Brandon Turner had an RBI-double, and freshman first baseman Matt Parks and junior second baseman Ross Yoder each added a run-scoring single.

The score remained knotted at 6-6 at the end of nine innings, so the game moved into extra innings. With two outs and the bases empty in the top of the tenth inning, Ross Yoder was hit by a pitch, senior Zack Helm reached on an infield single, and following a wild pitch, Burgos was intentionally walked to load the bases. That strategy back-fired, though, when sophomore shortstop Josh Estep was hit by a pitch to force in the go-ahead run.

Junior right-hander Marc Hadley (2-1) worked out of a jam in the bottom of the tenth inning as the potential tying run was stranded on third base to eliminate Rio Grande from the tournament. Hadley gave up just four hits over five scoreless innings of relief as he struck out five batters and picked up the victory. Senior right-hander Mike Laughlin started and allowed eight hits, three walks, and six runs over five-plus innings while striking out five.

Brandon Russell (5-6) took the loss in relief for the Redmen as he tossed the final 2.2 innings. Cody Lawhorn started and worked seven-plus innings before turning the game over to three bullpen pitchers.

Helm, Turner, Ross Yoder, and senior outfielder Eddie Smith each collected two hits apiece in the game for MVNU.  GAME FOUR BOXSCORE

The fifth and final game of the day featured another close game between two crosstown rivals as Walsh continued its surge with a 4-2 victory over Malone to eliminate the Pioneers just a few days after Malone had swept a four-game series from the Cavaliers.

The Pioneers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI-single up the middle by Jon Lutton. However, Walsh answered with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the second inning when Pettigrew led off the inning wit a home run to knot the score at 1-1.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Cavaliers moved in front 2-1 on an RBI-single by Tim Hromada as the run scored before Jeff Nicholas was thrown out at third base trying to move up two bases on the hit.

Then, in the bottom of the seventh inning, Walsh tacked on two unearned runs as the result of two errors by Malone to extend the lead to 4-2. Mark Kelly plated the first run with a sacrifice fly, and the other run came in on a fielding error.

The two insurance runs proved important as the Pioneers trimmed the lead to 4-2 on a solo homer by Dubovec in the top of the eighth inning. Then, Malone had runners at second and third with one out in the top of the ninth inning, but they were stranded their as Chad Campbell came on to get the last two outs, earn a save, and preserve the 4-2 win.

Kyle Lynn (3-2) picked up the win for Walsh as he scattered five hits, four walks, and one run over 6.2 innings with five strikeouts. Matt Mahek and Alan Frame also worked in relief.

Ryan Hartong (6-4) took the loss for the Pioneers as he gave up eight hits and four runs (only one earned) over seven innings with one strikeout.

Pettigrew and Rollin Matsui each had two hits for the Cavaliers, who won both their games on Tuesday but only scored one earned run in the process. Dubovec, Lutton, and Josh Spencer each registered two hits apiece for Malone.  GAME FIVE BOXSCORE

On Wednesday, the action will get under way at 10:00 a.m. with a winner’s bracket match-up between Ohio Dominican and Geneva. Then, at 1:00 p.m., Walsh will take on the Ohio Dominican/Geneva winner. At 4:00 p.m., MVNU will return to action with a loser’s bracket game against the Ohio Dominican/Geneva loser.

The NAIA Region IX Tournament is slated to continue on Thursday and possibly Friday. The winner of the tournament will host the Region X winner in the East Coast Super Regional next week with a berth in the NAIA World Series on the line.