In the first game, MVNU (14-9, 6-2 AMC) got off to a good start when senior shortstop Ross Yoder led off the game with his fourth home run of the season. It marked the second time that Yoder has led off a game with a home run and its his third first-inning home run of the year.

The Cougars tacked on five runs in the top of the second inning as MVNU took advantage of an error to plate a run, scored another on a run-scoring single by senior outfielder Garret Shivley, and capped off the inning with a three-run homer by junior second baseman Josh Estep (left) as the lead grew to 6-0.

The Cougars increased the lead to 12-0 in the top of the third inning with six more runs. Freshman outfielder Steve Williams drove in the first run on a fielder’s choice, Shivley had another RBI-single, senior third baseman Richey Burgos pounded a three-run home run - his team-leading sixth of the year - and Estep followed with his second round-tripper of the game and fourth of the season - this time of the inside-the-park variety.

MVNU added one more run in the top of the fourth inning when sophomore first baseman Matt Parks roped a double down the leftfield line and came around to score on a single by Yoder.

The Bears (8-16, 3-3 AMC) avoided the shutout in the bottom of the fifth inning by scoring an unearned run. However, it was too little too late as the 10-run mercy rule was invoked in the 13-1 victory.

Freshman right-hander Caleb Wright (right) (2-1) tossed a complete game for the Cougars as he allowed just five hits, one walk, and one unearned run over five innings with two strikeouts.

Phillip Holt (1-3) took the loss for Shawnee State as he gave up 11 hits, three walks, and 12 runs (eight earned) over three innings. Cory Pallutch surrendered two hits and one run in one inning of relief with one strikeout, while Greg Kettle tossed a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.

Estep led MVNU at the plate by going 3-for-4 with four RBI, two home runs, a double, and two runs scored. Yoder, Shivley, Burgos, and Parks also registered two hits apiece.

The second game was scoreless until the top of the third inning when the Cougars sent 10 batters to the plate and scored six runs. Burgos and senior outfielder Marc Hadley hit back-to-back two-run doubles, Parks had a sacrifice fly, and Williams closed the inning with an RBI double to put MVNU in front 6-0.

Sophomore designated hitter Kodi Veale extended the lead to 7-0 with a run-scoring ground out in the top of the fifth inning, and an RBI-single by Hadley and another run-scoring ground out by Veale in the top of the seventh inning made it 9-0.

The Bears once again avoided being shut out in their final at bat as Shawnee State, which had been limited to just one hit through the first six innings, strung together four hits and scored two runs to make the final score 9-2.

Senior right-hander Dave Yost (left) (2-0) picked up the win for the Cougars as he allowed just five hits, two walks, and two runs over seven innings with three strikeouts.

The Bears used five pitchers in the game as Adam Hatton (2-1) took the loss for Shawnee State as he allowed seven hits, two walks, and six runs over three innings with two strikeouts. Ryan Fairley gave up one hit and one run over two innings with one strikeout, while Jeff Case was charged with three hits and two runs without recording an out. Justin Gregory and Kettle both tossed a perfect inning.

Estep, Hadley, and freshman catcher Ricardo Rodriguez each had two hits to pace MVNU with Hadley driving in three runs and Hadley and Estep both scoring twice. Meanwhile, Zac Alexander went 2-for-2 to lead the Bears.

The Cougars will return to action on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. when MVNU will travel to the University of Rio Grande for another AMC doubleheader. Both games can be heard on WNZR’s webstream at http://wnzr.fm/sports.html.