In the first game, the visiting Pioneers (25-9, 12-4 AMC) built a 7-0 lead over the first four innings as Malone scored at least a run in each frame. Zac Barson had an RBI-double in the top of the first inning, Marc Adams hit a two-run homer in the top of the second inning, Ryan Baechel launched a solo home run in the top of the third inning, and Alex Schmid hit a three-run shot in the top of the fourth inning.

MVNU (22-11, 12-6 AMC) finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sophomore infielder Matt Parks led off the inning with a double to left center and came around to score on a out-out triple by sophomore outfielder Chaz Gibson (left) to make the score 7-1. Junior first baseman Travis McInerney followed with a sacrifice fly to centerfield to close the deficit to 7-2.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Cougars closed the gap to 7-4 as Gibson and sophomore catcher Ian Durbin both recorded RBI-doubles. However, that would be as close as MVNU would get and an unearned run scored by the Pioneers in the top of the seventh inning close out the scoring in the 8-4 victory for Malone.

Freshman right-hander Jeff Estep (2-1) took the loss for the Cougars as he gave up 10 hits, two walks, and seven earned runs over four innings with two strikeouts. Sophomore lefty Andy Podolak closed out the final three innings and allowed just two hits, one walk, and one unearned run with one strikeout.

Todd Liberatore (5-1) earned the win for Malone as he scattered nine hits, one walk, and four runs over 5.2 innings with four strikeouts. Bryan Bayer retired the final four batters of the game with three strikeouts to notch his 10th save.

Offensively, Gibson, Durbin, sophomore infielder Michael Hendren, and freshman shortstop Clint Yoder each had two hits apiece for MVNU. Meanwhile, Barson, Baechel, Adams, and Joe Goddard had two hits each for the Pioneers.

The second game proved to be a pitchers’ duel between senior right-hander Jason Decker (4-3) for the Cougars and Adam Boudler (5-1) for Malone. After neither team was able to score through the first four innings, the Pioneers scored first in the top of the fifth inning to take a 1-0 lead when Adam Heideman hit a lead-off home run in the frame.

MVNU knotted the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning when senior Josh Estep lined a two-out single off of Boudler and then advanced all the way to third when Boudler’s throw sailed up the line and into the outfield. Sophomore outfielder Steve Williams followed with an RBI-single through the left side of the infield to tie the game.

A pair of clutch two-out hits in the top of the sixth inning helped Malone regain the lead. Baechel and Heideman both came through with RBI-singles as the Pioneers took a 3-1 lead.

The Cougars pulled within 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning when Gibson and sophomore catcher Ricardo Rodriguez each reached on two-out singles. That brought Hendren to the plate and he promptly lined a single into right field to plate Gibson.

That would be as close as MVNU would get, though, as the Pioneers took the game 3-2 and posted the doubleheader sweep to move into first place with the Cougars falling from the top spot down to fourth place.

Decker (right) took the loss for MVNU despite allowing just five hits, two walks, and three runs over seven innings while striking out five batters.

Boudler earned the win for Malone as he scattered six hits, one walk, and one unearned run over five innings with five strikeouts. Bayer came on to notch his 11th save of the year and second of the day as he allowed three hits and one run over two innings with one strikeout.

Gibson paced the Cougars’ attack by going 3-for-3, while Josh Estep added two hits. Meanwhile, Heideman collected three hits for Malone in three at bats.

MVNU will look to bounce back and snap the team’s brief three-game losing skid on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. when the Cougars will travel to Thurman Munson Stadium in Canton to face Malone again in another AMC doubleheader.