MVNU (30-15, 20-10 AMC) got off to a good start in the first game as junior outfielder Kodi Veale lined a one-out double down the leftfield line and then came around to score on a two-run homer by senior designated hitter Josh Estep (left) - his third of the season - as the Cougars built a 2-0 lead.

However, the host Yellow Jackets (26-24, 9-17) wasted no time in answering as Cedarville used three hits, a walk, and a hit batsman to score three runs and move in front 3-2. Brandon Young had an RBI-single and Josh Sisson lined a two-run single up the middle.

The Yellow Jackets extended their lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the third inning when Juan Martinez drew a bases-loaded walk to plate one run and Brady Workman singled in another run.

MVNU got a run back in the top of the fourth inning when sophomore outfielder Steve Williams led off the inning with a triple to right center. Junior third baseman Matt Parks followed with an RBI-ground out to second to close the gap to 5-3.

Back-to-back one-out singles by Veale and Estep with one out in the top of the fifth inning put runners at first and third. Williams followed by reaching on an error to the shortstop as he drove in a run to make it 5-4. However, that was as close as the Cougars would get as Cedarville prevailed.

Senior lefty Brandon Turner (4-2) took the loss for MVNU as he allowed four hits, four walks, and five runs over 2.1 innings with two strikeouts. Freshman right-hander Kyle Barr came in at that point and allowed just one hit and one walk over the remaining 3.2 innings as he struck out four and gave his team a chance to try and mount a comeback.

Clint Price (5-3) went the distance for the Yellow Jackets as he scattered 10 hits, one walk, and four runs over seven innings with seven strikeouts.

Veale and Estep both collected three hits apiece to lead the Cougars’ attack, while freshman shortstop Clint Yoder (right) also had two hits. Meanwhile, Cedarville made the most of its five hits.

Once again, MVNU took an early lead in the second game as the Cougars plated two runs in the top of the second inning. Parks and Williams led off the inning with back-to-back singles and then pulled off a double steal to put runners at second and third. An RBI-ground out by Yoder plated the first run and junior first baseman Travis McInerney drove in the second run of the game with a ground out to shortstop.

Parks doubled and stole third in the top of the fourth inning and then came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Williams to extend MVNU’s lead to 3-0.

However, in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Yellow Jackets pulled within 3-2 when Tyler Rost drew a bases-loaded walk and Alex Beelen recorded an RBI-single.

An error allowed the Cougars to tack on an insurance run in the top of the fifth inning and an RBI-single by Yoder in the top of the sixth inning pushed MVNU’s lead to 5-2, which would be the final score.

Freshman right-hander Jerrob Decker started and worked 3.2 innings and allowed five hits, two walks, and two unearned runs with six strikeouts. Sophomore right-hander Steve Miller (4-2) got the win in relief as he allowed just two hits over the final 3.1 innings with three strikeouts.

The Yellow Jackets got another complete game performance on the mound as T.J. Taylor (4-5) went all seven innings and gave up 10 hits, one walk, and five runs while registering one strikeout in the loss.

Parks went 3-for-4 with a single, two doubles, and three runs scored, while Yoder had two hits and drove in two runs. Beelen paced Cedarville with two hits.

The Cougars will return to action on Tuesday when the team will travel to Ashland University for a non-conference nine-inning game that will start at 4:00 p.m. Then, MVNU will honor its senior players prior to Wednesday’s home non-conference nine-inning game against Wilmington College that is slated to start at 4:00 p.m.