In the first game, the difference in the outcome was both teams’ ability to take advantage of getting runners on base and driving them in with a timely hit. The Blue Knights (10-10, 3-3 AMC) were able to make the most of their opportunities as they pounded out 13 hits and scored in four of their seven times to the plate. Meanwhile, MVNU (11-8, 3-1 AMC) stranded 12 base runners as the Cougars failed to come up with a big hit time after time.

A sacrifice fly in the top of the second inning gave Urbana a 1-0 lead, and the Blue Knights tacked on three more runs in the top of the third inning to go up 4-0 as John Lindquist plated the first run with an RBI-single and Mike Bezak drove in the other two runs with a two-run single to centerfield.

MVNU got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning on a sacrifice fly by senior outfielder Marc Hadley (left) to close the gap to 4-1. That would be as close as the Cougars would get, though, as Urbana tacked on two runs in the top of the fifth and sixth innings respectively to take the game 8-1.

Freshman right-hander Caleb Wright (1-1) suffered the loss on the mound as he allowed 10 hits, one walk, and six runs with one strikeout over 4.1 innings. Senior right-hander Jason Barber gave up two unearned runs and one hit with one strikeout in 1.2 innings, and freshman lefty Andy Podolak tossed the final inning and scattered two hits to go with one strikeout as he worked out of a jam.

Cody Lawhorn (1-2) earned the win for the Blue Knights as he scattered eight hits, four walks, and one run over five innings with two strikeouts. Mike Blanton tossed the final two innings and gave up one hit with three strikeouts.

Offensively, freshman outfielder Steve Williams went 3-for-3 to lead MVNU, while Hadley and senior shortstop Ross Yoder both added two hits apiece. Senior third baseman Richey Burgos (right) also had one hit and scored the team’s lone run as he extended his hitting streak to 20 straight games dating back to last year.

Urbana was led by Bezak, who went 3-for-4 with four RBI. Michael Heck also went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, and Matt Murphy added three hits of his own.

In the second game, the Cougars took the early lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning to go on top 2-0. Williams plated the first run with a sacrifice fly to leftfield to score sophomore first baseman Matt Parks, who had doubled earlier in the inning. Yoder later drove in a run with a single through the left side of the infield.

The lead grew to 3-0 for MVNU in the bottom of the third inning when Burgos ripped a home run down the leftfield line leading off the inning. It was his team-leading fourth homer of the year.

The Blue Knights pulled within 3-2 in the top of the fourth inning when the first two batters reach on hits and then three batters walked to force in two runs and keep the bases loaded with just one out.

At that point, head coach Keith Veale summoned Podolak (left) from the bullpen for the second time on the day to come in and replace freshman left-hander Josh Mann, who had walked seven batters over 3.1 innings while allowing three hits and two runs with two strikeouts. Podolak promptly struck out Jeff Hartwig and got Murphy to ground out to leave the bases loaded and keep the Cougars on top.

MVNU got the two runs back in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, senior outfielder Garret Shivley was hit by a pitch. Burgos followed with a long home run to left center to push the Cougars’ lead to 5-2 as he notched his fifth round-tripper of the year.

MVNU closed out the scoring in the bottom of the sixth inning when Parks lined a one-out double to leftfield and then came around to score on sophomore designated hitter Kodi Veale’s single down the first base line that hit the bag and bounced into rightfield as the Cougars prevailed 6-2.

Podolak (1-0) picked up the win in relief as he retired all 11 batters that he faced in his 3.2 innings of work in the second game. He also struck out a career-high four batters.

“Andy did a really nice job of getting us out of a big jam in the fourth inning and then holding (Urbana) right there to give us a chance,” said Veale. “His performances today were very encouraging as we look for someone to give us solid innings in relief.”

Brock Bender (1-2) suffered the loss for Urbana as he allowed eight hits, one walk, and six runs (four earned) over six innings with one strikeout.

Burgos paced the MVNU offense by going 3-for-3 with two home runs, three RBI, and two runs scored as he extended his hitting streak to 21 games. Yoder and Parks added two hits each with Parks legging out two doubles and scoring two runs. Meanwhile, the Blue Knights were limited to just three hits and seven walks.

“Richey continues to hit the ball really well,” said Veale. “We did a better job in the second game of coming up with a few big hits when we needed them. We just have to continue to get better and more consistent in both our approach at the plate and on the mound.”

The Cougars will return to action on Tuesday when MVNU is scheduled to host Notre Dame College in an AMC doubleheader at Cougar Field that is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.