The Cougars (19-8, 9-3 AMC) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning of the first game when sophomore third baseman Michael Hendren walked, moved to second on a single by junior outfielder Kodi Veale, and advanced to third on an attempted double steal in which Veale was thrown out at second. Hendren then came home on an RBI-ground out by senior second baseman Josh Estep.

The host Cavaliers (10-17, 5-9 AMC) got the run back in the bottom of the first inning on a two-out RBI-double by Duston Walter, who was 3-for-3 in the game.

Walsh took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning on a two-out run-scoring single by Marc Miller to plate Mike Suliks who had drawn a one-out walk.

That would prove to be all the scoring in the game as the Cavaliers snapped a five-game losing skid with the 2-1 victory. It also marked the second time in three games that MVNU had dropped a 2-1 decision in conference play, and all three AMC losses for the Cougars have come by one run.

Sophomore right-hander Caleb Wright (3-1) took the loss for MVNU as he gave up nine hits, one walk, and two runs over five-plus innings with two strikeouts. Sophomore right-hander Steve Miller tossed one scoreless inning of relief and allowed just one walk.

Billy Gura (2-2) went the distance on the mound for Walsh as he scattered seven hits, one walk, and one run over seven innings.

Offensively, sophomore outfielder Steve Williams and sophomore designated hitter Ricardo Rodriguez (above) each had two hits apiece to pace the Cougars’ attack.

MVNU bounced right back in the second game as the Cougars jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning and never looked back. Williams plated the first run with an RBI-ground out, while junior first baseman Matt Parks hit a two-out, two-run homer - his second of the year and second in three games.

Tyler Maag led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run to get the Cavaliers on the scoreboard and make it 3-1. However, that would prove to be the only scoring for Walsh in the game as the Cavaliers managed just four hits the rest of the way.

Meanwhile, MVNU scored in each of the odd innings. Freshman shortstop Clint Yoder drove in two runs with a two-out single in the top of the third inning to push the lead out to 5-1.

A pair of bases-loaded walks to Rodriguez and freshman outfielder Chaz Gibson (right) pushed across two more runs in the top of the fifth inning.. Then, the Cougars closed out the scoring in the 11-1 win with four runs in the top of the seventh inning on a two-run double by Gibson and a two-run single by Estep.

Senior lefty Brandon Turner (3-1) earned the victory as he allowed just four hits, four walks, and one run over six innings with two strikeouts. Miller worked the final inning and gave up one hit while striking out one batter.

Steve Weirich (2-2) started and worked four-plus innings for Walsh and allowed seven hits, one walk, and six runs (three earned) with one strikeout. Jared Roberts, Mike Shaeffer, Mike Muenster, Ben Enright, and Eric Shimko each saw action in relief.

Veale, Estep, Parks, and Gibson each had two hits in the game for the Cougars with Gibson driving in three runs. Meanwhile, Maag collected three of the Cavaliers’ five hits.

MVNU and Walsh will wrap up the four-game series between the two schools on Saturday when the Cougars will host an AMC doubleheader at Cougar Field starting at 1:00 p.m.