In the first game, MVNU (21-8, 11-3 AMC) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when junior outfielder Kodi Veale drew a one-out, moved to third on a double by senior pitcher/infielder Josh Estep (left), and scored on a ground out to second by sophomore outfielder Steve Williams.

The lead grew to 2-0 in the bottom of the second when freshman outfielder Chaz Gibson hit a two-out, solo homer to leftfield. It was his team-leading fourth home run of the year in just his 39th at bat.

The visiting Cavaliers (11-19, 5-11 AMC) cut the deficit in half in the top of the fourth inning when Duston Walter led off the inning with a single. Following a double by Dustin Lancy that put runners at second and third with no outs, Marc Miller drove in a run with a ground out to second. However, a pop-up and a fly out kept Walsh from doing any further damage in the frame.

The Cavaliers did knot the score at 2-2 in the top of the sixth inning, though, when Mike Suliks walked, moved to second base on a balk, and went on to third base on a wild pitch. After Walter struck out, Lancy tied the score on an infield single in the hole at shortstop.

However, the Cougars answered with five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning as MVNU strung together five hits and also took advantage of an error by Walsh to take a 7-2 lead that would end up being the final score. Estep had a two-run double in the inning, while Veale, Williams, and sophomore infielder Michael Hendren each added an RBI-single.

Estep (5-2) posted his fifth complete game of the year in seven starts as he allowed just six hits, one walk, and two runs over seven innings with six strikeouts.

Mike Dougherty (1-2) started and took the loss for the Cavaliers as he gave up 11 hits, two walks, and seven runs (six earned) over 5.1 innings with two strikeouts. Mike Shaeffer registered the final two outs after allowing one hit and striking out one batter.

Offensively, Hendren, Estep, Williams, and Gibson each had two hits for the Cougars, while Walter and Lancy each collected two hits apiece.

MVNU built a 2-0 lead after three innings in the second game as the Cougars scored a single run in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI-single by Estep and tacked on another run in the bottom of the third inning on a run-scoring single by Williams.

Then, in the bottom of the fourth inning, MVNU broke the game open with four runs to take a 6-0 lead. Veale (right) and Estep both had run-scoring singles, while an error by the Walsh defense allowed two more runs to come across the plate.

The Cavaliers cut the deficit in half at 6-3 in the top of the fifth inning. Suliks and Walter both hit sacrifice flies and Tyler Maag plated the other run when he reached on an error.

However, the Cougars answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth inning to push the lead back to 9-3. Hendren plated two runs with a single, while Veale added an RBI-single.

The teams traded runs in the sixth inning as the final score ended up being 10-4. Tyler Jablonski had an RBI-single in the top of the sixth for Walsh, while sophomore catcher Ian Durbin drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the sixth inning to close out the scoring.

Senior right-hander Jason Decker (4-2) went the distance on the mound as he scattered 10 hits and four runs (three earned) over seven innings with two strikeouts to notch his fourth complete game of the season.

Jeff Kotlar (0-2) took the loss for the Cavaliers as he gave up seven hits, four walks, and six runs (four earned) over four innings. Chris Sunderman tossed 1.2 innings of relief and allowed five hits, three walks, and four runs with one strikeout, while Shaeffer registered the final out of the game.

Veale led the Cougars by going 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and two runs scored. Estep and freshman shortstop Clint Yoder added two hits apiece with Estep and Hendren each driving in two runs. Meanwhile, Maag, Mike Smetana, and Jablonski each had two hits to lead Walsh.

MVNU will return to action on Tuesday when the Cougars will host Ohio Dominican University in an AMC doubleheader that will start at 1:00 p.m. at Cougar Field. The Panthers currently are tied on top of the conference standings with Shawnee State University with an 8-2 AMC record.