MVNU (6-5) took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when senior shortstop Ross Yoder led off with a double to left center and came around to score on an RBI-single by senior third baseman Richey Burgos through the left side of the infield with one out.

The Cougars tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth inning when junior second baseman Josh Estep (left) led off the frame with an opposite-field home run to right - his first of the year - to make it 2-0.

The lead grew to 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning on a run-scoring double to right center by senior outfielder Garret Shivley. Then, sophomore catcher Travis McInerney made it 4-0 with a two-out, RBI-double in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Meanwhile, Mann (1-1) was in charge on the mound for the Cougars in just his second college start. He allowed just a two-out single in both the first and second innings and no hits after that as he tossed seven shutout innings with two walks and one hit batsman to go with six strikeouts.

The Bees (21-14), who received votes in the most recent NAIA poll, opened the top of the eighth inning with back-to-back doubles off senior right-hander Jason Barber, who came on in relief of Mann (below right). An error and a fielder’s choice allowed Savannah Art & Design to plate two runs and pull within 4-2 heading to the bottom of the eighth inning.

With one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, MVNU got consecutive singles from Shivley, freshman pinch hitter Michael Hendren, and Yoder to make it 5-2. After sophomore outfielder Kodi Veale was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Burgos made it 6-2 with a sacrifice fly to center. Estep and McInerney both followed with run-scoring hits to make it 8-2 and prompt a pitching change.

Senior designated hitter Marc Hadley was hit by a pitch to load the bases and sophomore first baseman Matt Parks drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run and make it 9-2. Shivley was hit by the next pitch to make it 10-2, and freshman outfielder Steve Williams hit a ground-rule double to right center to plate two runs and invoke the 10-run mercy rule as the Cougars prevailed 12-2.

Adam Miller (5-2), the Bees’ No. 2 starter who entered the game with a 1.58 ERA and allowing just a .194 batting average, gave up 17 hits and 10 earned runs in 7.2 innings of work after allowing just 27 hits and seven earned runs in 40 previous innings. He struck out five batters and issued two walks. Scott Shambaugh faced four batters and did not record an out as he allowed a hit, two walks, a hit batsman, and two runs to close out the game.

Offensively, Shivley, McInerney, Estep, and Yoder each had three hits apiece to lead the 18-hit attack. Burgos, Estep, Shivley, Williams, and McInerney drove in two runs each, and the Cougars compiled seven extra-base hits after having just nine on the season coming into the game. Patrick Braswell, Savannah Art & Design’s leading hitter on the season, led the Bees by collecting two of their four hits.

“Josh did a great job on the mound in just his second appearance,” said MVNU head coach Keith Veale. “He went right at the hitters and got ahead to a lot of the batters. He really gave us a chance to win this game.”

“It was also nice to see our bats come to life in this game,” added Veale. “Everyone in our lineup contributed in this game, and we were able to execute in some situations with nine of our runs coming with two outs. Any time that you can beat a team who has already played 35 games it is a nice win. We need to continue to build on this win and work to improve.”

The Cougars will have little time to enjoy the victory as they will travel across town to take on No. 18 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) University (18-9) at 4:00 p.m. on its home field.