In the first game, the Cougars (5-5) batted around in the bottom of the first inning as MVNU plated five runs to take the early lead. Senior third baseman Richey Burgos and senior outfielder Garret Shivley both had RBI singles, but the big blow was a two-out, bases-loaded triple by sophomore catcher Travis McInerney (left).

The Cougars tacked on another run in the bottom of the third inning when senior designated hitter Marc Hadley singled and moved to second on a wild pitch. After McInerney singled him to third, Hadley came in to score on another wild pitch to make it 6-0.

MVNU added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning with three hits, a walk, and a hit batsman. McInerney came through once again with a two-out, two-run single up the middle as the Cougars built a 9-0 lead.

That proved to be more than enough offense for Wright (1-0) (below right). The freshman right-hander needed just 70 pitches to toss the first complete game and shutout of his college career. He scattered seven hits over seven innings with no walks. He also registered 17 ground ball outs including two double plays.

Robert Mack (1-2) took the loss on the mound for Vikings (5-9) as he gave up nine hits, two walks, one hit batsman, and six runs over five innings with two strikeouts. Ken Roberts worked one inning in relief and allowed three hits, one walk, one hit batsman, and three runs.

McInerney paced the MVNU offense by going 4-for-4 with a career-high five RBI. Burgos added three hits, while junior second baseman Josh Estep scored two runs. Heath Stein led Grand View by going 2-for-3.

The Cougars went right to work in the top of the first inning of the second game when Burgos reached on a single through the left side with two outs. After Estep reached on a fielding error, Hadley lined a single through the left side to put MVNU in front 1-0.

The score remained that way over the next five and a half innings as Yost (1-0) and the Vikings’ Bryan Leitzinger (1-2) settled in to a pitchers’ duel. The Cougars managed just four base runners from the second through the sixth innings, while Grand View was limited to just five hits. The Vikings did threaten in the bottom of the second inning by loading the bases with two outs, and Grand View also had a base runner thrown out trying to steal in the bottom of the fifth inning. Another possible scoring threat was erased in the bottom of the sixth inning when a base runner was picked off second base with one out.

In the top of the seventh inning, MVNU manufactured three unearned insurance runs for a 4-0 lead. With one out, Shivley walked and freshman outfielder Steve Williams followed with a hit-and-run single through the right side to put runners on the corners with one out. A suicide squeeze bunt by senior shortstop Ross Yoder plated Shivley and Williams and advanced Yoder all the way to third when the throw to first sailed down the rightfield line. Sophomore outfielder Kodi Veale followed with another squeeze to plate Yoder.

Yost (left) closed it out from there as he got a double play ball after the lead-off batter reached on an error and then a ground ball to second to close out the doubleheader shutout sweep. Yost allowed just five hits and two walks with one strikeout over seven innings in tossing only his second career complete game and his first college shutout as he threw 85 pitches.

Leitzinger took the hard-luck loss for Grand View as he gave up six hits, two walks, and four runs (only one earned) over seven innings with two strikeouts.

Williams and Burgos both had two hits to lead the way for the Cougars, while the Vikings managed just five singles by five different players.

“With the strong wind blowing straight in, this was a day where there were going to be limited scoring opportunities,” said MVNU head coach Keith Veale. “I thought that we did a good job of taking advantage of the scoring situations that we had and we executed well with a good plan at the plate. Travis came up with a couple of key hits in the first game, and the two squeeze bunts in the seventh inning of the second game gave us a necessary cushion.”

“I thought that Caleb and Dave both did a great job on the mound of throwing strikes and going right after hitters,” Veale added. “For it only being his second college start, Caleb showed a lot of poise and command. Dave also did a good job of attacking the zone. This was a nice couple of wins on a day when the wind made it tough to get much offense going.”

MVNU will return to action on Wednesday with a pair of nine-inning games. The Cougars will take on Savannah College of Art & Design (Ga.), who received votes in the latest NAIA poll, at 10:00 a.m. Then, MVNU will travel to Embry-Riddle (Fla.) University for a 4:00 p.m. game against the Eagles, who are ranked No. 18 in the most recent poll.