In the first game of the day, MVNU (35-20) jumped on top in the top of the first inning as the Cougars plated three runs for the early 3-0 lead. The first run came in on a throwing error, while sophomore first baseman Matt Parks (left) drove in the other two runs with a clutch, two-out single through the right side of the infield.

MVNU’s lead grew to 5-0 in the top of the third inning when senior third baseman Richey Burgos walked and junior pitcher/second baseman Josh Estep beat out an infield single to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt by senior outfielder Marc Hadley moved the base runners to second and third, and sophomore catcher Travis McInerney plated them both with a two-run single between first and second.

The host Pioneers (39-14), who were ranked No. 22 in the final NAIA poll, finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning when Malone strung three singles together to plate a run as Troy Richeson’s two-out RBI-single made the score 5-1.

The Cougars got the run back in the top of the sixth inning, though, when freshman infielder Michael Hendren lined a two-out, RBI-double to left center to push the lead back to 6-1.

Back-to-back walks to Chris Mandeville and Zac Barson and a dropped pop-up off the bat of Zach Winkhart loaded the bases with no outs for the Pioneers in the bottom of the sixth inning. However, Malone was only able to plate two runs to cut the deficit in half at 6-3 as John Stallings drove in a run with a fielder’s choice and Ryan Baechel plated the other with a sacrifice fly as MVNU was able to wiggle out of the big threat.

Then, in the top of the seventh inning, the Cougars exploded for three more runs as they were helped by two errors from the Malone defense as MVNU’s lead was extended back to 9-3. McInerney had the only RBI of the inning on a fielder’s choice.

That lead would hold up as the Pioneers were retired in order in the bottom of the seventh inning as freshman right-hander Steve Miller came on in relief to strike out the side to close out the 9-3 victory.

Estep (right) (5-1) earned the victory for the Cougars as he worked six innings and allowed just six hits, three walks, and three runs (two earned) with six strikeouts. Miller came on to record the final three outs.

Adam Boudler (7-4), the NCCAA East Region Pitcher of the Year, took the loss for Malone as he gave up seven hits, two walks, and six runs (only two earned) over 5.2 innings with three strikeouts. Jimmy Dowling surrendered one hit, two walks, and three runs in just one-third inning of work, and Ryan Hartong tossed the final inning and registered a strikeout.

McInerney continued to swing the hot bat for MVNU as he went 2-for-4 with three RBI, while six other Cougars each added one hit with Burgos scoring three times. Meanwhile, Richeson paced the Pioneers’ offense by going 2-for-4.

With the victory, MVNU forced a second championship game just as the Cougars had done the previous week in the NAIA Region IX Tournament against Ohio Dominican University. Unfortunately for MVNU, the similarities between the two tournaments continued as the Cougars were once again done in by one big inning.

In the top of the first inning, Malone sent nine batters to the plate and scored five times helped by two costly errors by the MVNU defense that resulted in four of the runs being unearned. The only RBI of the inning was credited to Jeffrey Shenker when his ground ball with the bases loaded and just one out was booted by Burgos on what could have been an inning-ending double play ball. Instead three runs were scored as another throwing error was later committed on the play. When the dust had settled, the Pioneers led 5-0 after their first at bat.

The Cougars got off to a promising start in the bottom of the first inning as Yoder led off with a double to left center and came around to score on an RBI-single by senior outfielder Garret Shivley to cut the lead to 5-1. However, Burgos flied out and Estep grounded into a 6-4-3 double play as Malone was able to get out the inning with only one run crossing the plate.

The Pioneers tacked on two more runs in the top of the third inning as their lead grew to 7-1. Richeson and Justin Shiflett both had RBI-singles in the inning.

MVNU scored what would prove to be the final run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning when Yoder lined a run-scoring triple to right center to pull the Cougars within 7-2. However, that would be as close as MVNU would get as Malone went on to claim the NCCAA East Region title and an automatic berth into the NCCAA National Tournament in Struthers, Ohio.

Freshman right-hander Caleb Wright (5-2) started and took the loss for the Cougars as he gave up four hits and five runs (only one earned) in just two-thirds of an inning of work as he struck out two batters. Freshman lefty Andy Podolak allowed three hits, two walks, and two runs over two innings with three strikeouts, and Miller (left) tossed 4.1 more scoreless innings as he scattered four hits and struck out one batter.

For the Pioneers, Winkhart (6-0) tossed a complete game six-hitter to keep his record unblemished. He allowed just one walk and two runs in addition to the six hits and he struck out one batter over seven innings.

Offensively, Yoder and sophomore outfielder Kodi Veale each collected two hits apiece, while Shivley and Estep both had a single. Stallings went 3-for-4 to lead Malone, while Richeson also registered a pair of hits.

MVNU will now wait to see if the Cougars will get an at-large berth into the NCCAA National Tournament as the 10-team field for the double-elimination event that starts next Wednesday will be announced on Saturday night. MVNU was ranked third in the NCCAA power rankings at the end of the regular season, while Malone was ranked second.