The first game was a pitchers’ duel between MVNU freshman right-hander Caleb Wright (3-1) and Ohio State-Newark senior right-hander Allen Huffman. The duo matched each other inning for inning as the game moved into the bottom of the sixth inning still scoreless.

Then, in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Cougars, who had been limited to just a one-out single by senior outfielder Marc Hadley in the bottom of the second inning, were finally able to do some damage against Huffman. Freshman outfielder Steve Williams led off the frame with a single up the middle and was sacrificed to second on a bunt by senior outfielder Ross Yoder. A great bunt by senior outfielder Garret Shivley to the left of the mound put runners at the corners, and senior third baseman Richey Burgos (left) followed with a two-run double to left center to give MVNU (18-13) a 2-0 lead.

Junior second baseman Josh Estep followed with a ground out to second that moved senior pinch runner Dave Yost to third, and Hadley lined a single to leftfield to plate Yost and make it 3-0. Following a single by freshman catcher Ricardo Rodriguez, an error by the Titans (5-6-1) allowed another run to score as the Cougars took a 4-0 lead.

That was more than enough run support for Wright (right), who retired Ohio State-Newark in order in the top of the seventh inning to complete the game and notch his second shutout of the season. Wright allowed just four singles and one walk over seven innings with two strikeouts.

Huffman took the loss despite pitching well as he ended up giving up six hits and four runs (three earned) over six innings with three strikeouts and no walks. He also collected two of the Titans four hits at the plate.

Hadley finished 2-for-3 to pace the MVNU offense, while Burgos’ double was the only extra base hit of the game.

What the Cougars lacked in offense in the first game, they more than made up for in the second game as MVNU sent 11 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first inning before the first out was even recorded. When the dust settled, the Cougars had built a 10-0 lead on just six hits in their first time at bat. Estep had two two-run doubles in the inning as both balls appeared to get lost in the sun by Ohio State-Newark centerfielder Benjamin Lachowsky. Sophomore first baseman Matt Parks added a two-run triple and scored on the play as the result of a throwing error, while Hadley had an RBI-single and Shivley had a sacrifice fly.

MVNU picked right up where it left off in the bottom of the second inning as the Cougars pounded out seven more hits and scored five more runs to increase the lead to 15-0. Hadley had a two-run single, Yoder and Estep added RBI-singles each, and sophomore outfielder Kodi Veale had an RBI-double.

A two-run homer by Yoder (left) in the bottom of the third inning made it 17-0, and then a pair of errors in the bottom of the fourth inning led to six unearned runs as MVNU extended its lead to 23-0. The big blow in the fourth inning was a grand slam by Yoder - his eighth homer of the year - while sophomore catcher Matt Tucker had a pinch-hit, RBI-single in his first at bat of the year and freshman catcher Cory Bean plated another run when he reached on an error.

Yoder finished the game 4-for-4 with five runs to tie the school record in that category and seven RBI to finish just one shy of the school record in that category. Estep went 3-for-3 with five RBI, while Hadley was 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Parks tied the school record with a pair of triples, and Shivley, sophomore catcher Travis McInerney, and freshman infielder Michael Hendren each finished with a pair of hits apiece with Hendren and Veale both scoring three times.

Estep started and worked three shutout innings in his first appearance on the mound since March 19. He allowed just two singles and struck out four batters without issuing a walk. Senior right-hander Dave Yost (3-0) tossed the final two innings and allowed just a walk with three strikeouts to earn the win.

Jarrod Justice started and took the loss for Ohio State-Newark as he did not retire any of the nine batters he faced as he issued five walks and gave up four hits and nine runs. Shea Elliot worked two innings and allowed nine hits, one walk, and six runs with three strikeouts, while Kyle Jones worked 1.2 innings and surrendered seven hits, two walks, and eight runs (only two earned) with three strikeouts. Bradley Kean struck out the only batter that he faced.

MVNU will return to action on Wednesday when the Cougars will travel across town to Kenyon College for a non-conference nine-inning game that will start at 5:00 p.m.