In the first game, MVNU (28-16, 15-9 AMC) got off to a good start as the Cougars used two hits, three walks, a wild pitch, and a balk to take a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Senior third baseman Richey Burgos (left) had an RBI-single, while senior outfielder Marc Hadley drew a bases-loaded walk to force in another run.

The host Pioneers (9-27, 7-17 AMC) cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the second inning as an RBI-single by Dan Campbell and a run-scoring ground out by Sean Gaughan pulled Point Park within 4-2.

MVNU got the two runs back in the top of the fourth inning on a bases-loaded walk to senior outfielder Garret Shivley and an RBI-ground out by Burgos as the Cougars pushed their lead back to 6-2.

Then, in the top of the fifth inning, MVNU sent nine batters to the plate and scored five times to go in front 11-2. Sophomore outfielder Kodi Veale had a two-run single, Shivley added an RBI-ground out, and Burgos recorded a sacrifice fly. The other run scored on a wild pitch.

The Cougars ended the game after six innings due to the 10-run mercy rule when junior outfielder Nick Martindale scampered home on a wild pitch in the top of the sixth inning to make the final score 12-2.

Senior lefty Levi Curry (right) (7-3) earned the victory as he allowed just four hits, five walks, and two runs over six innings with three strikeouts.

Anthony Sorce (3-5) started and took the loss for the Pioneers as he allowed three hits, eight walks, and six runs over three-plus innings. Rocky Capobianco gave up three hits, six walks, and six runs in two-plus innings of relief, and Kevin Hutchinson tossed one scoreless inning and allowed just one hit and one walk.

Senior shortstop Ross Yoder led MVNU at the plate by going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while sophomore first baseman Matt Parks also had two hits. Burgos finished with three RBI, and Veale drove in two runs and scored twice. The Cougars drew a school-record 15 walks in the game.

The second game was a pitchers’ duel as MVNU junior right-hander Jason Decker (6-5) and Point Park’s Gaughan held both offenses at bay.

The Pioneers broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning when Matt Ferro led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a bunt. Denny DiPasquale followed with a single to put runners at first and third, and Bryce Pfeuffer gave Point Park a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly to rightfield.

The Cougars knotted the score at 1-1 in the top of the fifth inning. Yoder led off with a double and moved to third on a wild pitch. One out later, Burgos drove him in with an RBI-single.

Neither team scored again until the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, Ryan Sterno doubled. Brandon Haburjak followed with a game-winning, RBI-single as the Pioneers claimed a 2-1 victory to split the doubleheader.

Decker was the hard-luck loser as he gave up seven hits and two runs over 6.1 innings with two strikeouts and no walks.

Gaughan allowed seven hits, three walks, and one run over six innings with four strikeouts for Point Park. Hutchinson (1-6), who threw right-handed in relief in the first game but threw left-handed in the second game, earned the win in relief as he tossed one perfect inning.

Offensively, Yoder (left), Burgos, and Parks each had two hits for MVNU, which stranded nine base runners in the game. Sterno collected two of the Pioneer’s seven hits.

The Cougars will return to action on Friday at 1:00 p.m. when MVNU will host Point Park in another AMC doubleheader to close out the regular season. The Cougars need to win at least one game to guarantee themselves a spot in the upcoming four-team NAIA Region IX Tournament. MVNU is currently in fourth place with a 15-9 conference mark. Urbana University, who has four games left with AMC-leading Ohio Dominican University, is in third place with a 14-8 mark, while Walsh University, who split a doubleheader with Notre Dame College on Thursday and has another doubleheader with the Falcons on Friday, is in fifth place with a 14-10 mark.