In the first game of the day, MVNU (14-4) found itself in a big hole after just one inning as the host Warriors (15-21) used three doubles, two singles, and a walk to take a commanding 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

The lead grew to 7-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Chad Pearce hammered a two-out, two-run home run to left field. Then, Webber International tacked on one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning to close out the scoring in the 8-0 win.

Senior lefty Brandon Turner (2-1) took the loss on the mound for the Cougars as he gave up 10 hits, four walks, and seven runs over five innings with five strikeouts. Sophomore left-hander Andy Podolak worked one inning and allowed one hit, one walk, and one unearned run with two strikeouts.

Zach Hile earned the victory for the Warriors as he allowed just four hits and two walks over seven innings with three strikeouts.

Offensively, sophomore infielder Michael Hendren (left), senior second baseman Josh Estep, sophomore catcher Ricardo Rodriguez, and freshman first baseman Josh Roberts each registered a single in the game to account for MVNU’s four hits. Roberts extended his two offensive streaks to 12 straight hits and 16 straight times reaching base before finally having them both come to an end on a fly out to right field in the fifth inning.

Meanwhile, Jerod Mathis led Webber International at the plate by going 3-for-4. Pearce also finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Ryan Regidor drove in three runs with a first-inning, bases-loaded double.

After 13 scoreless innings dating back to Monday’s 5-2 loss at Southeastern (Fla.) University, the Cougars finally got their offense going again in the top of the first inning of the second game. With two outs, junior infielder Matt Parks plated the first run with an RBI-single. After a single by sophomore outfielder Steve Williams kept the inning going, Roberts lined a two-run single back up the middle to put MVNU on top 3-0.

After the Warriors scored a run in the bottom of the first inning on a walk, two wild pitches, and a single by Hartley to trim the lead to 3-1, sophomore catcher Ian Durbin doubled, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a ground out by junior first baseman Travis McInerney to push the lead back to 4-1.

Webber International got the run back in the bottom of the second as the Warriors used a single, a walk, a passed ball, and a wild pitch to close the gap to 4-2.

Then, after Webber International had taken the field for the top of the third inning, the game was halted for 30 minutes for a sun delay as the sun set in right center making it difficult for the batters to see the pitches. Both teams and the fans were forced to just wait for the sun to drop below the outfield wall and seemingly disappear into the lake located behind the outfield fence.

When play resumed, the Warriors switched pitchers, while freshman right-hander Jeff Estep remained on the mound for the Cougars despite the long delay. In the top of the fourth inning, MVNU broke the game open with five hits as the Cougars plated four runs to take an 8-2 lead. The first run came in on a throwing error while sophomore infielder Alan Varney was stealing second base. McInerney and Josh Estep later had RBI singles, and Hendren capped the scoring by scampering home on a wild pitch.

Webber International got a run back in the bottom of the fifth inning on a double by Lance Lozan, a wild pitch, and an RBI ground out by Mathis to make it 8-3. Then, in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Warriors closed to within 8-4 on an RBI-single by Darrin Jones, but they left two other runners on base as MVNU maintained its lead.

After the Cougars were held scoreless in the top of the seventh inning, Webber International put together one more scoring threat in the bottom of the seventh. Lozan and Burgos were both hit by pitches. Then, with two outs, Shawn Mayhew made it 8-5 with a run-scoring single that also brought the tying run to the plate. Cody Whitlow hit a ground ball in the hole at shortstop that Hendren fielded and fired across the infield to Roberts to just nip Whitlow by half a step to end the game and give MVNU the hard-fought victory.

Jeff Estep (1-0) (right) picked up the win in his first collegiate appearance on the mound as he allowed just three hits, four walks, and three runs (two earned) over five innings with two strikeouts. Podolak gave up two hits, one walk, and one run in one inning of relief work, while freshman right-hander Kyle Barr gave up one hit and one run in one inning to close out the game.

Chris Kirk started and worked the first two innings for the Warriors as he allowed five hits and four runs over two innings with two strikeouts to suffer the loss. Mark McLeod worked the next two innings and surrendered five hits and four runs with one strikeout, and Ryan Jarvis and Anthony Ficarro combined to toss three scoreless frames to close out the game while allowing just two hits and striking out three batters.

Offensively, Hendren led the Cougars as the lead-off hitter went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Roberts and Josh Estep also collected two hits apiece with Roberts and McInerney both driving in a pair of runs each. Meanwhile, for Webber International, six different players each collected a hit.

MVNU, which received votes in the latest NAIA poll that was released on Tuesday afternoon, will return to action with a pair of games on Wednesday at Warner University in Lake Wales, Fla. The Cougars will take on Tennessee Temple University at noon followed by a 3:00 p.m. contest against the host Lions, who are 22-10 and ranked No. 17 in the latest NAIA poll.