Brandon Turner, Jason Decker, and Josh Estep have helped to lead MVNU to a 134-74 record (.644 winning percentage) over the past four seasons as the Cougars have won one conference title and advanced to the championship game of the NAIA Region IX Tournament three times. The team also captured the 2008 National Christian College Athletic Association national title - the program’s unprecedented sixth NCCAA national championship. MVNU is currently 30-15 overall and 20-10 in American Mideast Conference play.

Turner, a left-handed pitcher/outfielder from Lucasville, Ohio, has pitched in 27 games over the past five years and has posted a 14-4 overall record with a 5.25 ERA with four shutouts. The former Valley High School star missed all of last season after undergoing arm surgery. He has also posted a career batting average of .305 in 94 games with 16 doubles, two triples, two home runs, 48 runs scored and 61 RBI. He was named to the American Mideast Conference South Division Second Team and the NCCAA East Region Team as a junior. This season, Turner has posted a 4-2 record on the mound in eight starts with a 5.75 ERA.

"Brandon’s willingness and desire to return to MVNU for a fifth year to complete his baseball eligibility is to be admired,” said MVNU coach Keith Veale. "A lot of players would have packed things up after undergoing Tommy John surgery his junior year. However, Brandon was adamant about finishing his career here. Very few people can understand the sacrifice and commitment it took to do this. Brandon is a team guy with team aspirations. He enjoys life and he enjoys his teammates. He has always been an encourager. He loves playing baseball and he has been a solid contributor throughout his four-year playing career.”

Decker, a right-handed pitcher from Dover, Pa., has pitched in 41 games over the past four years with 17 complete games in 26 starts. The former Dover High School standout has posted a 19-12 career record with a 4.78 ERA. In 182.2 innings he has struck out 114 batters and issued just 34 walks. He was named to the AMC and NCCAA East Region Honorable Mention Teams as a junior. In the classroom, Decker has a 4.00 grade point average as a Criminal Justice and Intercultural Studies major. He was an NAIA and NCCAA Scholar-Athlete as well as a CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team pick. This season, he has a 5-4 record with a 5.27 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 56.1 innings.

"Jason has had a remarkable career,” said Veale. "His competitiveness and attention to the details have allowed him to perform consistently in the top four of our pitching rotation. He is a great teammate who leads by example and is truly interested in the welfare of his teammates. Jason has excelled in the classroom and has been instrumental in helping his teammates in the classroom as well. Throughout his career, he has mentored our younger pitchers and has been a tremendous resource in their development. Jason has been a dynamic spiritual leader as well. He has been involved in numerous mission trips and has led our team in sponsoring the support for two different kids in Africa through Compassionate Ministries. Jason will continue to be an outstanding leader in his chosen career to come.”

Estep, a second baseman/pitcher from Gahanna, Ohio, has been one of the most productive all-around performers in the program’s history. The former Gahanna Lincoln High School product ranks second in school history in games played (203), third in hits (262) and assists (474), fourth in RBI (179) and at bats (680), sixth in batting average (.385), seventh in doubles (44), ninth in runs scored (170), and tenth in home runs (21). On the mound, he has posted an 11-3 mark with three saves and 95 strikeouts in 108.2 innings with just 30 walks. Among his many honors, Estep has been named to the NCCAA All-American Team, the AMC First Team, and the NAIA Region IX Team twice as well as being the NCCAA National Tournament Most Valuable Player last year. This season, he is batting .395 with a team-best 43 RBI while also posting a 5-2 record on the mound with a 3.14 ERA and a team-leading 51 strikeouts in 51.2 innings.

"Josh has had an outstanding four-year career here,” said Veale. "He has been pretty much a four-year starter on the infield and he has found a home at second base where he has been an All-Conference First Team performer. He is known as ‘Easy’ by his teammates, which truly describes his approach to the game. He is never too high or too low. He has also become a dominant force the past two years on the mound until things have slowed down due to injury this spring. He is definitely one of the elite pitchers in the AMC when healthy. In the offensive lineup, he has been one of the more productive hitters in Cougar baseball history. His confidence on the field spills over to his teammates. We are a better team with Josh on the field.”

In addition to Wednesday’s game against Wilmington, MVNU is also scheduled to host an AMC doubleheader with the University of Rio Grande on Friday at 1:00 p.m. The Cougars are looking to advance to the four-team, double elimination AMC Tournament that will take place starting next Tuesday at Thurman Munson Field in Canton, Ohio.