The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the second inning of the first game when sophomore outfielder Steve Williams led off the frame with a solo homer to left field - his second of the season. That lead would hold up through six innings as the two teams combined for just five hits during that span.

Senior right-handed pitcher Josh Estep (4-2) (left) was in control in the first game as he allowed just two hits - both to Kenta Sato - through the first six innings of the game as he also struck out six batters and took a 1-0 shutout into the seventh inning for the Cougars (18-7, 8-2 AMC).

Then, in the top of the seventh inning, Brian Ramey hit a shallow pop-up to left center that dropped for a one-out single. Nick Ball followed with a check-swing opposite flare that fell just fair along the leftfield line. Cory Pallutch then grounded a single through the left side to plate two runs and give Shawnee State (13-14, 6-3 AMC) a 2-1 advantage.

MVNU tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh inning when junior infielder Matt Parks reached on a one-out error and freshman shortstop Clint Yoder singled to move Parks to third. With two outs, sophomore catcher Ricardo Rodriguez drew a walk to load the bases, but the Cougars were unable to push across the tying run as MVNU fell 2-1.

Estep suffered the loss despite allowing just five hits and two runs over seven innings with seven strikeouts and no walks. Meanwhile, Austin May (2-1), who entered the game with a 7.31 ERA for the Bears, earned the win by allowing just four hits and one run over 6.1 innings with four strikeouts. Adam Wamsley registered the final two outs of the game to notch his fourth save.

“I thought that Josh pitched very well in this game, but we just were not able to pull it out,” said MVNU coach Keith Veale. “You hate to see a performance like that go to waste, but we just were not consistent enough at the plate to generate any more offense.”

The second game was a different story for the Cougars as they pounded out 11 hits including four home runs and scored in every inning to post a 12-2 victory in a game that was halted in the bottom of the sixth inning due to the 10-run mercy rule being in affect.

Estep got the scoring under way for MVNU in the bottom of the first inning when he blasted a two-run homer to score junior outfielder Kodi Veale, who had doubled with one out.

A solo home run by Logan Crabtree with one out in the top of the second inning pulled Shawnee State within 2-1, but freshman outfielder Chaz Gibson launched his team-leading third homer of the season to left field in the bottom of the second inning to extend the Cougars’ lead back to 3-1.

Wamsley hit a solo home run to lead off the top of the third inning as the gap closed to 3-2, but once again MVNU answered at the plate as the Cougars scored twice in the bottom of the third inning to increase the lead to 5-2 as one run scored on an error and the other came around to score on an RBI-single by Yoder.

A solo home run by sophomore infielder Michael Hendren in the bottom of the fourth inning and a two-run shot by Parks in the fifth inning caused MVNU’s lead to balloon up to 8-2. Then, the Cougars ended the game early in the bottom of the sixth inning by scoring four runs as the 10-run mercy rule went into effect with MVNU leading 12-2. Estep had a two-run single, another run came in on an error, and Parks drove in the final run with a single to end the game.

Senior right-hander Jason Decker (3-2) (right) went the distance on the mound as he allowed just four hits, two walks, and two runs over six innings with six strikeouts to pick up the win.

Greg Kettel (0-2) suffered the loss for Shawnee State as he gave up six hits, one walk, and five runs over 2.2 innings with one strikeout. Matt Mader followed and allowed two hits, one walk, and three runs over 2.1 innings with one strikeout, while Cody Riggs registered two outs and gave up three hits, one walk, and four runs (just one earned) while striking out one batter.

Estep led the 11-hit offensive attack for the Cougars by going 3-for-3 with four RBI and four runs scored, while Parks went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Hendren also had a pair of hits including his first career home run.

“We were much more consistent up and down our lineup in the second game,” said Veale. “Jason also gave us a great performance on the mound. It was important to come away with a split after the disappointing loss in the first game.”

MVNU will return to action on Thursday when the Cougars will travel to Walsh University for another AMC doubleheader that will begin at 1:00 p.m.