In the first game, the visiting Yellow Jackets (25-23, 8-16 AMC) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI-single by Alex Beelen and a sacrifice fly by Clay Bryan.

The lead was short-lived, though, as MVNU (29-14, 19-9 AMC) used seven hits and three errors to score eight runs in the bottom of the second inning to take an 8-2 lead. Junior first baseman Travis McInerney (left) and senior second baseman Josh Estep both had two-run singles in the inning, while sophomore catcher Ian Durbin and freshman shortstop Clint Yoder each had an RBI-single. Two other runs came in as the result of errors.

Cedarville made things interesting in the top of the fourth inning with three straight singles to open the frame. An error by the Cougars’ defense closed the gap to 8-3, and Brady Workman followed with a grand slam to leftfield that pulled the Yellow Jackets to within 8-7.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, MVNU answered with four runs after the first two outs of the inning where recorded. McInerney dropped a two-run single down the rightfield line, while sophomore infielder Michael Hendren ripped a two-run double to left center to extend the Cougars’ lead back out to 12-7.

An RBI-ground out by Yoder in the bottom of the fifth inning increased MVNU’s lead to 13-7. After Cedarville scored a run in the top of the sixth inning on a double play, the Cougars responded with a run of their own on a wild pitch to make the score 14-8. An RBI-double by Brandon Young in the top of the seventh inning closed out the scoring in the 14-9 victory for MVNU.

Sophomore right-hander Caleb Wright (5-2) earned the victory as he scattered nine hits, one walk, and seven runs (six earned) over four-plus innings with three strikeouts. Sophomore lefty Andy Podolak was outstanding over the final three innings as he allowed just two hits, one walk, and two unearned runs with three strikeouts to notch his first career save.

Matthew Willett (5-5) suffered the loss for the Yellow Jackets as he gave up 15 hits, four walks, and 13 runs (11 earned) over four-plus innings with four strikeouts. Aaron Cocks tossed the final two innings and allowed just one hit and one run.

Offensively, Estep led the Cougars with three hits, while McInerney added two hits and four RBI. Durbin, Yoder, sophomore outfielder Steve Williams, junior infielder Matt Parks, and freshman outfielder Chaz Gibson added two hits apiece with Gibson doubling twice.

Young paced Cedarville with three hits, while Workman and David Convertini added two hits apiece with Workman driving in four runs.

The second game started much the same way that the first game did as the Yellow Jackets took an early lead on the strength of a solo home run by Beelen to leftfield one out into the game as Cedarville led 1-0 after one inning.

MVNU got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning as the Cougars used three hits, two hit batsmen, and a sacrifice fly to plate four runs and take a 4-1 lead. Hendren plated the first run with a single down the leftfield line, junior outfielder Kodi Veale followed with a two-run single to right center, and Estep capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly to centerfield.

MVNU tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI-single by Estep and a sacrifice fly by Williams and then pushed the lead to 7-1 when sophomore catcher Ricardo Rodriguez doubled in a run in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Yellow Jackets closed the gap to 7-3 with single runs in both the top of the sixth and seventh innings on an RBI-double by Nathan Davenport and a run-scoring ground out by Young, but that would be as close as Cedarville would get as the Cougars completed the doubleheader sweep.

Senior right-hander Jason Decker (5-4) (right) earned the win for MVNU as he tossed his team-leading sixth complete games by scattering nine hits, one walk, and three runs over seven innings with four strikeouts.

Andrew York (1-5) took the loss for the Yellow Jackets as he allowed nine hits, three walks, and seven runs with two strikeouts.

Offensively, Estep, Yoder, and Rodriguez each had two hits for the Cougars, while Tyler Rost had two hits to pace Cedarville.

MVNU will return to action on Saturday when the Cougars will travel to Cedarville for another AMC doubleheader that will get under way at 1:00 p.m.