In the first contest, No. 3 seed MVNU (33-17) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning as the Cougars manufactured a run. Senior outfielder Marc Hadley and sophomore catcher Travis McInerney had back-to-back singles to lead off the inning, and sophomore first baseman Matt Parks advanced both base runners with a sacrifice bunt on an 0-2 count. Sophomore outfielder Kodi Veale (left) then drove in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly to rightfield.

MVNU tacked on another run in the top of the fourth inning as junior second baseman Josh Estep walked to lead off the inning and moved to second on a one-out single by McInerney. After Parks reached on a fielder’s choice to put runners at first and third with two outs, Estep came in on a balk to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead.

MVNU appeared to break the game wide open in the top of the fifth inning as a pair of errors by the Blue Knights’ defense let four unearned runs score as the Cougars lead grew to 6-0. McInerney and Parks both had RBI-singles in the inning with the other two runs coming in on errors.

Then, in the bottom of the seventh inning, Urbana used nine hits and two walks to plate nine runs as the Blue Knights sent 14 batters to the plate on the way to rallying for a 9-6 lead to stun MVNU. Matt Netherly and Andrew Harrell both drove in two runs in the inning, while Russ Chambers, Steve Froese, Michael Heck, and Zach Roll each had an RBI-hit in the inning.

After neither team scored in the eighth inning, the game moved to the top of the ninth inning with the Cougars still trailing 9-6 as they were down to their final three outs. The inning got off to a promising start as senior shortstop Ross Yoder was hit by a pitch leading off the frame. Then, MVNU got a huge break when senior outfielder Garret Shivley’s ground ball to short that had double play written all over it was misplayed by Matt Murphy as both runners were safe.

After senior third baseman Richey Burgos singled to load the bases, Murphy helped the Cougars’ cause once again as he fielded Estep’s ground ball that once again had double play possibilities written on it, but his throw to second sailed wide allowing two runs to score as MVNU pulled within 9-8 with runners at first and third and still no outs.

Hadley followed with an RBI-single to knot the score at 9-9, and Hadley and Estep moved to second and third respectively on a ground out by McInerney. After Parks was intentionally walked to load the bases, Veale lined an RBI-single to center that ended up scoring two runs as another error occurred on the play to put the Cougars on top 11-9. Freshman outfielder Steve Williams (right) followed with a two-run single as MVNU’s lead grew to 13-9 before the Cougars were finally retired in the inning, but not before they scored seven unearned runs.

After John Lindquist drew a lead-off walk for the No. 4 seed Blue Knights (28-22) to start the bottom of the ninth inning, MVNU head coach Keith Veale called on Estep to come in and close out the game. Estep did just that as he induced a 1-6-3 double play back to the mound and then struck out Harrell to end the game and send the Cougars into the NAIA Region IX Tournament championship game for the ninth straight year.

Freshman right-hander Caleb Wright started and worked 6.1 innings for MVNU as he allowed 10 hits, two walks, and seven runs with three strikeouts. Freshman right-hander Andy Carter gave up two hits, one walk, and two runs while retiring one batter, and freshman lefty Andy Podolak (2-1) picked up the win as he worked 1.1 scoreless innings of relief with one hit and two walks. Estep finished the game by recording three outs by facing just two batters with the double play and a strikeout.

Mike Blanton started and lasted 4.2 innings for Urbana as he allowed nine hits, one walk, and six runs (only two earned). Grant Martin was effective in relief as he tossed 3.1 innings and struck out four batters while allowed three hits and two unearned runs. Jaeson Hudnall (10-3), the American Mideast Conference Pitcher of the Year, retired just one of the six batters he faced as he took the loss by allowing three hits, one walk, and five unearned runs. Stefan Alinkas gave up two hits to the two batters he faced, and Brandon Christopherson recorded the final two outs for the Blue Knights.

Offensively, McInerney (left), Williams, and Hadley each had three hits as the Cougars finished with 17 hits in the game, while Yoder, Burgos, and Parks added two hits apiece. Meanwhile, Froese went 3-for-4 to lead Urbana, and Netherly and Harrell added two hits and two RBI apiece.

The victory over the Blue Knights moved MVNU into the championship game against No. 2 seed Ohio Dominican University (36-14). The undefeated Panthers had defeated the Cougars 14-13 in 10 innings in the first round of the tournament and then cruised past Urbana 18-4 in the winner’s bracket championship game.

MVNU took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning as Parks plated the first run with an RBI-single and Veale drove in the second run with a run-scoring ground out to first base.

Ohio Dominican put together a major scoring threat in the bottom of the second inning as Matt Shiring and Jose Avila walked and Greg Riesenberg singled to load the bases with no outs. However, the Cougars were able to avoid the big inning as K.C. Warden grounded into a double play for the first time all season and Brian Packo flied out as the Panthers were only able to manage one run to cut the deficit in half 2-1.

MVNU went right back to work at the plate in the top of the third inning as the Cougars plated three runs after two outs were recorded. Hadley and Parks both had RBI-singles, while junior courtesy runner Nick Martindale came in on a wild pitch as MVNU’s lead grew to 5-1.

Ohio Dominican trimmed the lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the third inning. Vince Doster and Felix Brown had back-to-back singles to lead off the inning, and Joe Janusik followed with an RBI-double. However, once again, the Cougars were able to minimize the damage as Eian Banks grounded out to third with runners at second and third, Shiring fouled out to first, and Avila flied out to center.

After neither team scored in the fourth inning, MVNU tacked on three more two-out runs in the top of the fifth inning to increase its lead to 8-2. Freshman infielder Michael Hendren (right) had a two-run single, and Yoder added an RBI-double.

The lead grew to 9-2 in the top of the seventh inning as McInerney led off the inning with his first career home run - a solo shot that just cleared the fence in leftfield.

The score remained that way until the bottom of the ninth inning when Packo and Doster drew one-out walks and then both came around to score when Brown’s bunt was fielded in front of the plate by McInerney, but his throw sailed down the rightfield line to close the gap to 9-4 with Brown ending up at third when the dust settled.

Janusik followed with an RBI-double to right center as the Panthers crept within 9-5. Then, Banks fouled out to McInerney for a big second out, but Shiring walked to put runners at first and second. With the potential tying run waiting in the on-deck circle in the person of Riesenberg, Avila struck out swinging to end the game and put the Cougars one win away from the NAIA East Coast Super Regional.

Estep (left) (4-1) earned the victory as he came back to pitch 8.1 strong innings scattering 10 hits, four walks, and five runs (four earned) with three strikeouts to finish with 9.1 innings of work on the day. Freshman right-hander Steve Miller came on to get the final two outs and had a strikeout and a walk.

Chris Smith (5-3) took the loss for Ohio Dominican as he started and worked just 2.2 innings and allowed six hits, three walks, and five runs with one strikeout. Andy Onak tossed 3.2 innings and gave up six hits, two walks, and four runs with two strikeouts, and Joe Pollock tossed the final 2.2 innings and surrendered just two hits while striking out one batter.

In addition to his outstanding performance on the mound, Estep also went 4-for-5 at the plate to help his cause. McInerney, Parks, and Burgos added two hits apiece with Parks and Hendren each registering two RBI.

Janusik led the Panthers at the plate by going 3-for-5 with two RBI, while Brown and Riesenberg both had two hits apiece. Ohio Dominican stranded 10 base runners in the game.

The victory by the Cougars sets up a second championship game match-up between MVNU and Ohio Dominican on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Whichever team wins that game will host the NAIA East Coast Super Regional next week in a best-of-three series against the NAIA Region X champion with a berth in the NAIA World Series on the line.