The first game had all the makings of a pitchers’ duel at the outset with both MVNU (31-17) and Ohio Dominican (35-13) sending their No. 1 pitchers to the mound in senior lefty Levi Curry for the No. 3 seed Cougars and sophomore right-hander Jonathan Kountis for the No. 2 seed Panthers. However, both teams’ offenses had something to say about that as the two teams combined for 27 runs and 40 hits in the game.

Ohio Dominican took an early 2-0 lead by plating a run in both the top of the first inning and the top of the second inning. Joe Janusik’s one-out RBI-single in the top of the first inning got the scoring under way for the Panthers, while Brian Packo added a two-out, run-scoring single in the top of the second inning.

MVNU answered with three runs of its own in the bottom of the second inning to take a 3-2 lead. Sophomore outfielder Kodi Veale (left) ripped a two-out, two-run double down the rightfield line, and senior shortstop Ross Yoder added an RBI-single.

The Cougars tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the third inning when once again Veale had the big hit with a two-out, two-run single with sophomore first baseman Matt Parks also scoring on an error on the play as MVNU’s lead grew to 6-2.

Ohio Dominican closed the gap to 6-4 in the top of the fourth inning as one run scored on a double play with the bases loaded and the second run came around to score on an RBI-single by Packo.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Cougars struck for three more runs to increase their lead to 9-4 as Veale lined a two-run triple to rightfield and then came in to score on a squeeze bunt by freshman outfielder Steve Williams.

That lead was not safe, however, as the Panthers sent 11 batters to the plate in the top of the sixth inning and strung together six hits and two walks to score seven runs and take an 11-9 advantage. Greg Riesenberg had the big blow in the inning with a bases-loaded, three-run triple with two outs after the previous two batters had struck out as MVNU appeared about to get out of the jam. Felix Brown added a two-run double, and Vince Doster registered an RBI-single. Jose Avila also drew a bases-loaded walk.

The two teams exchanged runs over the next two innings with Eian Banks and Packo both registering RBI-singles. Meanwhile, sophomore catcher Travis McInerney (right) and junior second baseman Josh Estep each had a run-scoring hit for the Cougars as Ohio Dominican maintained a 13-11 edge.

The score remained that way headed into the bottom of the ninth inning when MVNU loaded the bases with three straight singles to start the inning. With one out, senior designated hitter Marc Hadley lined a two-run single through the left side of the infield to knot the score at 13-13. However, with the potential winning run at second base, the next two batters for the Cougars were retired to send the game to extra innings.

In the top of the tenth inning, the first two batters were retired on a strikeout and a shallow pop-up. However, Packo followed with a triple to rightfield and then came in to score the go-ahead run on a wild pitch for a 14-13 advantage.

MVNU threatened in the bottom of the ninth inning as Veale singled to lead off the inning. However, after Veale moved up on a bunt and a ground-out to the right side, he was stranded at third base when a ground out to shortstop ended the game with the Panthers prevailed 14-13 in 10 innings.

Curry started and worked five-plus innings as he scattered eight hits, three walks, and five runs (only four earned) over five innings. Senior right-hander Dave Yost faced four batters and allowed four hits without registering an out. Freshman lefty Josh Mann worked 2.1 innings and gave up five hits, three walks, and four runs with four strikeouts. Freshman right-hander Andy Carter (0-1) took the loss as he allowed two hits, one walk, and one run over 2.2 innings with four strikeouts.

Ohio Dominican also used four pitchers as Kountis started and worked 4.1 innings and allowed 10 hits and eight runs (five earned) with no walks and eight strikeouts. Carter Garnon surrendered a hit to the only batter that he faced and it resulted in a run, while Zane Miller kept the Panthers in the game and gave them a chance to win by allowing six hits, two walks, and three runs over 3.2 innings with three strikeouts. Ryan Robowski (7-3) earned the win in relief as he scattered four hits and one run over two innings with two strikeouts.

Offensively, Veale paced the Cougars by going 4-for-6 two singles, a double, and a triple with six RBI. Yoder, Estep (left), and McInerney added three hits apiece, while sophomore first baseman Matt Parks and senior outfielder Garret Shivley each collected a pair of hits as MVNU finished with a season-high 21 hits but stranded 13 base runners.

Packo had a big game for the Panthers by going 5-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored. Riesenberg went 4-for-6 with three RBI and three runs scored, while Doster and Banks added three and two hits respectively for Ohio Dominican, which finished with 19 hits and also stranded 13 base runners.

With the loss, the Cougars slipped into the loser’s bracket and was forced to turn right around and play a second game on Wednesday as MVNU squared off with NAIA No. 22 Malone, the top seed in the tournament who was upset by No. 4 seed Urbana University 4-0 in the first game of the day.

The Pioneers took a 1-0 lead on an RBI-single by John Stallings with two outs in the top of the second inning, but the Cougars answered right back with two runs of their own to grab a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI-single by Parks and a squeeze bunt by Williams.

Malone regained the lead 3-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Baechel and an error with Zach Winkhart getting an RBI on the play.

This time, MVNU responded by scoring three runs in the bottom of the third inning to move in front 5-3 as Estep lined an RBI-single up the middle and McInerney added a two-run single to right center.

Another error in the top of the fourth inning allowed the Pioneers to pull within 5-4, but once again the Cougars answered as MVNU scored three more times in the bottom of the fourth inning to expand its lead to 8-4. Estep plated the first run with another run-scoring single, while the other two runs came in on an error with two outs.

The Cougars closed out the scoring in the bottom of the sixth inning when Estep doubled and came around to score on a one-out, RBI-single by McInerney to give MVNU a 9-4 advantage.

Malone threatened in the each of the final three innings, but the Cougars were able to work out of a jam each time as the Pioneers stranded seven base runners in the final three innings as MVNU prevailed 9-4.

Junior right-hander Jason Decker (right) (7-5) earned the victory as he scattered seven hits, three walks, and four runs (two earned) over 6.1 innings with four strikeouts. Freshman lefty Andy Podolak worked 1.1 scoreless innings with three walks and one strikeout as he also got a big double play with the bases loaded in the seventh inning. Estep tossed the final 1.1 innings to notch his third save as he gave up one hit and one walk with two strikeouts.

Sam Campitella (5-1) suffered the loss for Malone as he gave up five hits, three walks, and five runs over two-plus innings. Brian Bayer tossed two-plus innings and surrendered three hits, one walk, and three runs with three strikeouts, while Josh McKeivier tossed two innings and allowed two hits and one run. Jimmy Dowling worked the final two innings and gave up just one walk.

Offensively, Estep led the Cougars by going 3-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored, while McInerney went 2-for-2 with three RBI. Hadley also added a pair of hits.

Troy Richeson, Chris Mandeville, and Mike Tozzi had two hits apiece to pace the Pioneers’ attack. Malone ended up stranding 15 base runners in the game.

MVNU will return to action on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. in the loser’s bracket championship. The Cougars will face the loser of the winner’s bracket game between Ohio Dominican and Urbana that will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday. The NAIA Region IX Tournament will continue on Friday with the winner of the tournament earning the right to host the NAIA East Coast Super Regional next week.