The story of the first game was the pitching of senior right-hander Jason Decker (2-2) (left). Decker allowed just two hits - a double with two outs in the bottom of the third inning and a solo home run leading off the seventh inning - and one run over seven innings with one walk and five strikeouts. He also fielded five ground balls back to the mound to help his cause as he registered 12 ground ball outs in the game.

Meanwhile, the Cougars (13-3) got on the scoreboard in the top of the second inning. Freshman designated hitter Josh Roberts and freshman shortstop Clint Yoder led off the inning with back-to-back singles and were bunted to second and third respectively by freshman outfielder Jeff Estep. Sophomore infielder Michael Hendren then gave MVNU a 1-0 lead with a ground ball second base.

In the top of the third inning, the Cougars tacked on three runs to go in front 4-0. With one out, sophomore outfielder Steve Williams doubled, sophomore catcher Ricardo Rodriguez walked, and junior infielder Matt Parks was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Roberts plated the first run with an RBI-single through the right side. After Rodriguez was nailed at the plate trying to advance on a wild pitch, Yoder drove in two more runs with a triple to right field.

The lead grew to 5-0 in the top of the fifth inning when Parks led off the inning and moved to second on an errant pickoff attempt. After Roberts walked, both runners stole a base to advance to second and third. Then, with one out, Jeff Estep plated Parks with a sacrifice fly to right field.

The Mavericks (4-3) avoided being shut out in the bottom of the seventh inning when Michael Grassano blasted a lead-off home run to left field. However, Decker got the next three batters to ground out including the final two back to the mound to wrap up the impressive victory.

Matt Moreno took the loss for Mercy as he gave up nine hits, three walks, and five runs over four-plus innings with three strikeouts. Keith Kreig, Walter Kowalczyk, and Frank DeRosa each tossed a scoreless inning of relief as they each allowed one runner to reach base while each recording one strikeout.

Offensively, Roberts continued his hitting tear as he went 3-for-3 to improve to 11-for-12 on the season (.917) including hits in his last 11 official at bats and reaching base 15 straight times dating back to his first at bat of the year. Williams and Yoder also added two hits apiece to the 11-hit MVNU attack.

The Cougars got off to a good start in the second game of the day against Southeastern (20-13) thanks to two errors by the Fire. With two outs, senior pitcher Josh Estep reached on an error to prolong the inning and Williams followed with a single through the right side. Parks plated Estep with an RBI-single to right center and Williams also scored on the play when the throw from right field went out of play as MVNU took a 2-0 lead.

Southeastern, the four-time defending National Christian College Athletic Association Division II national champs, got one of the runs back in the bottom of the first inning when Hector Echemendia drew a two-out walk after the first two batters struck out. Derek Cone followed with a run-scoring double to right center to cut the lead to 2-1.

The score remained that way until the bottom of the fourth inning when Echemendia drew a lead-off walk and Cone reached on a two-base throwing error to put runners at second and third. James Latorre followed with his tenth home run of the season - a three-run shot to centerfield - as the Fire took a 4-2 lead.

Southeastern would go on to tack on an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Matthew Tomlinson walked and moved to second on an errant pickoff throw. After a sacrifice bunt put him at third, Edwin McPhee blooped an RBI-single into center to complete the scoring in the 5-2 win.

Josh Estep (3-1) took the loss despite allowed just three hits in the game and striking out nine batters over six innings. However, two of the four walks he issued came around to score, and two MVNU errors also turned into two unearned runs.

Alex Barron earned the win for the Fire as he scattered five hits, two walks, and two unearned runs over seven innings with three strikeouts.

Offensively, Parks collected two of the Cougars’ five hits with Williams and sophomore catcher Ian Durbin each adding a single apiece and Yoder legging out a double.

MVNU will return to action on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. with a doubleheader at Webber International (Fla.) University in Babson Park, Fla.