In the game against Mount Mercy (7-16), the Mustangs got off to a quick start as they took advantage of two errors by MVNU (7-7) and then registered five hits in the top of the first inning to score four unearned runs. The damage could have been worse, but two Mount Mercy base runners were picked off in the inning.

The Cougars answered with two runs in the bottom of the first inning as senior shortstop Ross Yoder (left) hit a lead-off home run for MVNU for the second straight game. After sophomore outfielder Kodi Veale singled and senior third baseman Richey Burgos hit a ground rule double to put runners at second and third with no outs, junior second baseman Josh Estep made it 4-2 with a sacrifice fly.

The Mustangs added single runs in the top of the second and third innings to extend the lead to 6-2. Then, in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Cougars got a lead-off double from senior designated hitter Marc Hadley and back-to-back singles by sophomore first baseman Matt Parks and senior outfielder Garret Shivley to trim the lead to 6-3. However, the next three batters were retired as MVNU was on the way to stranding 13 base runners in the game including nine in scoring position.

Mount Mercy tacked on another unearned run in the top of the sixth inning, but the Cougars used a two-run triple by Veale to close the gap to 7-5.

That would be as close as MVNU would get, though, as the Mustangs tacked on four more unearned runs in the top of the seventh inning to expand their cushion to 11-5.

The Cougars got three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to pull within 11-8 as Burgos had an RBI-single, Estep (right) hit another sacrifice fly, and Hadley was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. MVNU would go on to strand five base runners in the final two innings as the Cougars were unable to complete the comeback.

Junior right-hander Jason Decker (2-1) suffered the loss as he lasted just two-plus innings and allowed six hits, one walk, two hit batsmen, and six runs (only one earned) with one strikeout. Freshman left-hander Andy Podolak tossed four innings of relief and gave up just three hits, three walks, and one unearned run with four strikeouts. Sophomore right-hander Michael King worked 1.1 innings and surrendered five hits and four unearned runs with two strikeouts. Freshman Andy Carter tossed the final 1.2 innings and did not allow a run with just one hit, one walk, and one strikeout. Five errors on defense led to 10 unearned runs for Mount Mercy.

Offensively, Burgos led the way for MVNU with three hits, while Yoder, Veale, and Parks had two hits apiece.

In the second game of the day, the Cougars went right to work in the top of the first inning against Huntington (4-6). With one out, Veale singled and stole second base. Then, Estep came through with a two-out single through the right side to give MVNU a 1-0 lead.

The Cougars took a 2-0 lead with another two-out hit in the top of the second inning when freshman outfielder Steve Williams lined a double down the leftfield line following a single by freshman catcher Cory Bean.

A solo homer by Burgos and an RBI-single by Parks extended the lead to 4-0 in the top of the third inning, and a triple by Yoder followed by a run-scoring ground out by Veale made it 5-0 in the top of the fourth inning. An RBI-single by Shivley and a two-run single by Williams increased the lead to 8-0 in the top of the fifth inning.

The Foresters finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning with a pair of runs and then tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth inning to close the gap to 8-3.

A two-run homer by Parks to deep left center pushed the lead back to 10-3, and Huntington closed out the scoring with a run in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Cougars prevailed 10-4 for a split on the day.

Senior lefty Levi Curry (left) (2-1) picked up the win as he scattered 11 hits, three walks, and four runs over eight innings with five strikeouts. Parks tossed a perfect ninth inning to close out the game for MVNU.

Williams and Estep both had three hits apiece to lead the Cougars, while Burgos, Parks, Shivley, and sophomore catcher Travis McInerney added two hits each.

MVNU will close out their spring trip on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. when the Cougars will play a seven-inning game against Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) University.