Fresh off an 18-hit offensive outburst in a 12-2 win over Savannah College of Art & Design (Ga.) earlier in the day, MVNU (6-6) went right to work against the host Eagles (19-9), who were ranked No. 18 in the NAIA entering the game. Senior shortstop Ross Yoder (left) led the game off with a home run to left to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead. Sophomore outfielder Kodi Veale followed with a double down the leftfield line and came in to score on an RBI-single by senior third baseman Richey Burgos to make it 2-0.

After a throwing error on a pick-off attempt and an infield single by junior pitcher Josh Estep put runners at the corners, senior outfielder Garret Shivley plated a run with a suicide squeeze bunt to make it 3-0. Sophomore first baseman Matt Parks followed with a run-scoring single through the right side to give MVNU a 4-0 after its first time at bat.

Embry-Riddle got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning when Colin Gray led off the frame with a solo home run to rightfield cut the deficit to 4-1. Then, in the bottom of the sixth inning, Eric Ogden lined a one-out double to right center and pinch runner Aaron Tea later came around to score on an RBI-ground out by Gray to pull the Eagles within 4-2.

The Cougars got one of the runs back in the top of the seventh inning when Estep (right) lined a two-out single up the middle to plate Yoder, who had singled to lead off the inning and stolen second base, as MVNU’s lead grew to 5-2.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Embry-Riddle strung together three hits and took advantage of a wild pitch as the Eagles scored twice to close the gap to 5-4 heading to the ninth inning.

The Cougars answered with two runs of their own in the top of the ninth inning to move back in front 7-4. Veale led off with a triple to right center and scored on a squeeze bunt by sophomore catcher Travis McInerney. Shivley plated the other run with a run-scoring ground out.

Embry-Riddle went right to work in the bottom of the ninth inning as Billy Hootman led off with a single. One out later, Matt Steele and James Kissinger were both hit by pitches to load the bases. Kyle Albright reached on a fielding error that could have potentially been a game-ending double play ball, but instead allowed a run to score. Ogden followed with an RBI-single to rightfield to pull the Eagles within 7-6 and load the bases.

The next batter, Gray, hit a pop-up to second base that was dropped and allowed another run to score and tie the game at 7-7 as Gray was called out due to the infield fly rule. Brandon Roper-Hubbert followed with a single through the left side of the infield to give Embry-Riddle the 8-7 come-from-behind victory.

Estep started and worked eight innings for the Cougars as she scattered nine hits, two walks, and four runs while striking out five batters. Senior right-hander Marc Hadley (0-1) started the ninth inning and gave up two hits, two hit batsmen, and four runs in one-third of an inning as he took the loss. Freshman right-hander Steve Miller registered one out and gave up one hit.

Tucker Jensen started for Embry-Riddle and gave up nine hits, one walk, and five runs over six-plus innings with two strikeouts. Robbie Flynn worked two-plus innings and allowed two hits and one run with two strikeouts. Aaron Varnum (3-2) earned the victory after giving up one walk and one unearned run in one inning of work.

Offensively, Estep helped himself at the plate as he went 4-for-5 for MVNU. Yoder and Veale also added two hits and two runs scored apiece.

Ogden paced Embry-Riddle by going 3-for-5, while Gray and Roper-Hubbert both added two hits apiece. The Eagles were able to survive five fielding errors in the game.

“Josh did a great job on the mound for us and gave us a chance to win,” said MVNU head coach Keith Veale. “I was very encouraged by his performance. Offensively, I liked the way that we got right after them in the first inning and kept the pressure on throughout the game. We just have to figure out how to finish games in order to start pulling out these close games against good teams.”

The Cougars will take Thursday off before returning to action on Friday with a pair of nine-inning games against Mount Mercy (Iowa) College and Huntington (Ind.) University at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. respectively.