In the first game, MVNU (21-13, 10-6 AMC) broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the second inning. Senior designated hitter Marc Hadley was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Two outs later, sophomore first baseman Matt Parks (left) fouled off several pitches before blasting a 2-2 pitch over the scoreboard in left center to give the Cougars an early 2-0 lead. It was Parks’ third homer of the season.

MVNU manufactured a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning as Hadley roped a lead-off double to centerfield and moved to third on a passed ball. After sophomore catcher Travis McInerney walked and Parks was hit by a pitch to load the bases, sophomore outfielder Kodi Veale lofted a sacrifice fly to deep rightfield to plate a run with runners at first and third and just one out. Freshman outfielder Steve Williams drove in another run to make it 4-0 when he reached on a fielder’s choice.

The visiting Cavaliers (19-14, 12-7 AMC), who are the defending NAIA Region IX champions, finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning when the first three batters singled to plate the first run and Ryan Indorf followed with a two-run single to left center to pull Walsh within 4-3 with just one out. However, a ground out and a strikeout ended any further scoring opportunities as the Cougars were able to maintain their lead.

MVNU got two of the runs back in the bottom of the fifth inning when Hadley ripped a two-run, opposite-field homer to leftfield with two outs to make to push the lead back to 6-3. It was Hadley’s third home run of the season.

That proved to be a big blow as the Cavaliers continued to chip away at the lead as they took advantage of one of the Cougars’ four errors in the game to score an unearned run in the top of the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Mike Weibley to close the gap to 6-4.

After Mark Kelly singled to lead off the top of the seventh inning for Walsh, MVNU head coach Keith Veale brought junior Josh Estep (right) from second base to pitch in a save situation for the first time in his career. Estep promptly retired the next three batters to wrap up the game and notch his first career save as the Cougars held on for the 6-4 victory.

Senior lefty Levi Curry (6-2) started and earned the win for MVNU as he worked six-plus innings and scattered 10 hits, one walk, and four runs (three earned) with three strikeouts.

Chris Norris took the loss for the Cavaliers as he allowed six hits, four walks, and six runs over six innings with three strikeouts.

Hadley went 2-for-2 to pace the Cougars’ offense as he drove in two runs and scored three times. MVNU made the most of its six hits in the game by scoring six runs. Meanwhile, Jeff Nicholas went 3-for-3 to lead Walsh, while Kelly and Indorf added two hits apiece.

The second game was scoreless until the bottom of the third inning when the Cougars sent 15 batters to the plate and scored nine runs to take a 9-0 lead. With one out and runners on second and third, senior third baseman Richey Burgos was intentionally walked to load the bases. That plan backfired for the Cavaliers when Estep launched a grand slam to left center to give MVNU a 4-0 lead. It was Estep’s sixth homer of the year and 18th of his career.

That was only the beginning in the third inning for the Cougars, though, as Parks and Williams (left) added RBI-singles and senior outfielder Garret Shivley, who had his 13-game hitting streak snapped in the first game, ripped a two-run double to left center that just missed going over the fence for a grand slam. The other MVNU run came in as the result of two errors in the inning.

Jason Pettigrew ripped a solo home run to leftfield to get Walsh on the scoreboard leading off the top of the fourth inning, but the Cougars got the run back in the bottom of the fourth inning on another error to make it 10-1.

A single, a throwing error, a walk, and a passed ball helped the Cavaliers plate a run in the top of the sixth inning to pull within 10-2, but RBI-doubles by senior shortstop Ross Yoder and Burgos allowed MVNU to end the game early due to the 10-run mercy rule as the Cougars prevailed 12-2.

Junior right-hander Jason Decker (5-3) notched the complete-game win as he allowed just three hits, one walk, and two runs (one earned) over six innings with five strikeouts.

Mike Dougherty (3-4) took the loss for Walsh as he gave up seven hits, three walks, and eight runs in just 2.1 innings with two strikeouts. Steve Weirich tossed two innings and allowed five hits, one walk, and two runs with two strikeouts, and Kyle Stull tossed the final 1.1 innings and gave up four hits and two runs with two strikeouts.

Williams led the MVNU offense by going 3-for-4 with a single, two doubles, and three runs scored. Yoder, Estep, Parks, Veale, and freshman catcher Ricardo Rodriguez added two hits apiece for the Cougars.

MVNU will return to action on Saturday when the Cougars will travel to Walsh University to play another doubleheader against the Cavaliers that will get under way at 1:00 p.m.