In the first game of the day, MVNU (31-19) took on No. 1 seed and host Malone University (42-12). The Pioneers got on the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning when Adam Heideman blasted a solo home run to leftfield with one out to give Malone a 1-0 lead.

The lead grew to 3-0 in the top of the fourth inning when three errors by the Cougars led to two unearned runs. Matt Anderson had the lone RBI in the inning with a sacrifice fly.

MVNU, the No. 4 seed, finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning. With two outs, sophomore second baseman Michael Hendren reached on an infield single. Junior outfielder Kodi Veale followed with a sinking line drive to rightfield that dropped for a hit and got by rightfielder Marc Adams allowing Hendren to come around and score to make it 3-1.

That would prove to be the only scoring in the game for the Cougars, though, as the Pioneers tacked on two runs in each the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings to cruise to a 9-1 victory. Scott McIllvain and Alex Schmidt both had an RBI-single in the top of the seventh inning, Justin Shiflett ripped a two-run double in the top of the eighth inning, and Anderson added a two-run double of his own in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Senior right-hander Jason Decker (5-6) took the loss for MVNU as he tossed 7.1 innings and scattered 10 hits, one walk, and seven runs (four earned) with five strikeouts. Sophomore lefty Andy Podolak retired both batters he faced in relief with one strikeout, while Kyle Barr gave up two hits, one walk, and two runs in his inning of work.

Jeffrey Shenker (6-1) was outstanding on the mound for Malone as he gave up just five hits, one walk, and one unearned run while tossing all nine innings to notch a complete game.

Junior catcher/first baseman Travis McInerney (left) led the Cougars at the plate by going 2-for-2 with a walk. Meanwhile, McIllvain Barson, Adams, and Anderson each had two hits for the Pioneers with Anderson driving in three runs.

With the loss, MVNU moved into the loser’s bracket of the tournament to take on No. 3 seed University of Rio Grande. The Red Storm (37-20) had dropped their first round game 12-2 to No. 2 seed Ohio Dominican University earlier in the day.

Rio Grande took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Edwin Orta drew a lead-off walk, was sacrificed to second, and scampered home on an RBI-single by Tyler Schunk.

The Cougars knotted the score at 1-1 in the top of the third inning. Veale was hit by a pitch with two outs on a 1-2 count and then moved to second base on an errant pick-off attempt. Senior designated hitter Josh Estep followed with an RBI-single to leftfield to tie the game.

MVNU took its first lead of the day in the top of the fourth inning when sophomore outfielder Steve Williams started the inning with a single up the middle. After Williams moved up to second base on a ground out to the right side by McInerney, he came around to score on a single to centerfield by freshman outfielder Chaz Gibson to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead.

The lead was short-lived, though as the Red Storm answered with a vengeance in the bottom of the fourth inning as Rio Grande scored six runs to regain the lead for good 7-2. Brad Konrad had a two-run single in the inning, while Schunk, James Jamieson, and Ryan Yakura each had an RBI-single in the frame. Another run came around on a wild pitch.

The Red Storm tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning as the lead grew to 11-2. Schunk had a two-run single, Yakura had an RBI-double, and Konrad plated another run with a single.

MVNU got three of the runs back in the top of the sixth inning as the Cougars pulled within 11-5. Gibson had a two-run double to centerfield in the inning, and Veale added an RBI-single. However, a double play on a fly ball kept MVNU from creeping any closer.

An RBI-single by Orta in the bottom of the sixth inning and run-scoring triple by Yakura to rightfield in the bottom of the eighth inning closed out the scoring for the Red Storm and the game as Rio Grande prevailed 13-5 to eliminate the Cougars.

Sophomore right-hander Caleb Wright (5-3) was the starter and loser for the Cougars as he gave up 10 hits, one walk, and seven runs over four innings while striking out two batters. Sophomore right-hander Steve Miller worked one inning in relief and gave up six hits and four runs, while freshman right-hander Jeff Estep allowed two hits, one walk, and one run over one inning of work. Freshman right-hander Jerrob Decker walked all three batters that he faced, but sophomore lefty Andy Podolak came on to get him out of a bases-loaded jam. Podolak tossed two innings and gave up one hit, one walk, and one run with one strikeout.

Desmond Sullivan (6-5) earned the win for the Red Storm as he worked 6.1 innings and scattered 12 hits, one walk, and five runs with four strikeouts. Ryan Chapman worked 1.2 scoreless innings and allowed two hits with a strikeout, and Ben Schlater hit the two batters he faced. Finally, Schunk came on to get the final three outs and register one strikeout.

Gibson (right) paced the Cougars by going 3-for-4 with three RBI, while Veale, Josh Estep, Yoder, and Williams each had two hits. Meanwhile, Rio Grande pounded out 19 hits - the most allowed by the Cougars this season - with Yakura going 4-for-4 with three RBI, and Schunk and Konrad each registering three hits apiece with Schunk driving in four runs and Konrad plating three runs.