In the first game, the Foresters (2-5) broke a scoreless deadlock with three runs in the top of the third inning as Huntington took advantage of two errors, a balk, a hit batsman, and a walk to build a 3-0 lead. The big blow in the inning was a two-out, two-run single by Andrew Drummond just inside the bag at first base.

After MVNU loaded the bases with one out but failed to score in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Cougars went right back to work in the bottom of the fifth inning. Senior shortstop Ross Yoder led off with a single and came around to score on sophomore outfielder Kodi Veale’s single. Walks to senior third baseman Richey Burgos and senior designated hitter Marc Hadley (left) loaded the bases with two outs, but MVNU was unable to get any closer than 3-1.

The Foresters tacked on two insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning to make it 5-1. Korey Grow and Adam Farris both registered an RBI in the frame. Grow finished 3-for-3 for the game.

The Cougars threatened again in the bottom of the seventh inning as they loaded the bases with just one out. However, a line out and a strikeout ended the game as MVNU finished with 12 runners left on base including eight in scoring position for the game.

Senior lefty Levi Curry (1-1) took the loss for the Cougars as he gave up eight hits, two walks, three hit batsmen, and five runs over seven innings with four strikeouts.

Michael Dalton (1-0) started and earned the win for Huntington as he scattered four hits, six walks, and one run over five innings with nine strikeouts. Jeremy Rodibaugh worked an inning and allowed one hit, while Grow tossed the final inning with one walk, one hit batsman, and two strikeouts.

The second game proved to be a pitchers’ duel between MVNU junior right-hander Jason Decker (right) (2-0) and the Foresters’ Drew Taylor.

Huntington took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning when Keith Benbow led off the inning by reaching on a fielding error. Benbow stole second base and then moved to third base on a fly out to right field. He came home on an RBI-single by Austan Kas.

Meanwhile, Taylor was busy holding the Cougars’ offense in check. After allowing five hits over the first three innings, he settled into a groove and retired 11 straight batters to help the Foresters to a 1-0 lead heading to the top of the seventh inning.

In the top of the seventh inning, Hadley led off with a single to left center with junior outfielder Nick Martindale coming in to run for him. After senior outfielder Garret Shivley sacrificed him to second base, sophomore catcher Travis McInerney moved him to third base as his pinch hit glanced off the Taylor’s glove and went to Thad Frame at shortstop, who threw McInerney out.

Freshman pinch hitter Michael Hendren (left) came to the plate with two outs and the tying run at third base. After fighting off several pitches, Hendren lined a two-strike pitch up the middle to plate Martindale with the tying run. Yoder followed with a single up the middle and Veale singled to left center to score Hendren and make it 2-1.

Edwin Rodriguez led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single for Huntington. After a sacrifice bunt and a ground out moved him to third base with the potential tying run, Decker induced a ground ball to Yoder at shortstop to end the game and give MVNU the hard-fought 2-1 victory.

Decker was outstanding on the mound as he allowed just six hits, one walk, and one unearned run over seven innings with four strikeouts as he tossed his second straight complete game.

Taylor took the loss as he gave up nine hits, one walk, and two runs with six strikeouts over 6.2 innings. Grow registered the final out of the seventh inning for the Foresters.

Yoder and Burgos both went 2-for-4 to pace the Cougars’ offense, while Kas and Rodriguez had two hits apiece for Huntington.

MVNU will return to action on Tuesday morning when the Cougars will take on Grand View (Iowa) College in a doubleheader that will begin at 10:00 a.m.