ORMOND BEACH, Fla. (3-19-2010) - The Mount
Vernon Nazarene University baseball team saw
its seven-game winning streak come to an end
on Friday as the Cougars fell 5-3 to
Huntington (Ind.) University and 10-6 to
Indiana Institute of Technology at the
Ormond Beach Sports Complex.
The Foresters (7-7) built a 3-0 lead after
two innings with a run in the top of the
first inning and two unearned runs in the
top of the second inning.
MVNU (10-4) finally broke through in the
bottom of the third inning as the Cougars
used four walks to break up a perfect game
and plate a run to pull within 3-1.
MVNU added another run in the bottom of the
fourth inning as junior outfielder Steve
Williams led off the frame with a double off
the rightfield fence for the Cougars’ first
hit. Two outs later, Williams stole third
and then came in on an RBI-single by
freshman infielder Jordan Doherty to close
the gap to 3-2.
Huntington tacked on a single run in both
the top of the fifth and sixth innings to
build a 5-2 advantage. The Cougars were able
to get one of the runs back in the bottom of
the sixth inning when junior Ricardo
Rodriguez scored on the back end of a double
steal to make it 5-3. However, that was as
close as MVNU would get.
Junior right-hander Caleb Wright (1-1)
suffered the loss as he gave up seven hits
and five runs (two earned) over six innings
with three strikeouts. Freshman right-hander
Darren Athey worked the final inning and
allowed two hits.
Offensively, the Cougars managed just six
hits with Williams’ double being the only
extra base hit.
The second game started well for MVNU as
freshman Brian Brockly led off the game with
a double to left center and was bunted to
third. A ground out by senior catcher Travis
McInerney (right) to second base plated Brockly for
an early 1-0 lead.
Indiana Tech answered with a solo homer in
the bottom of the first inning and the
bottom of the second inning to go in front
2-1. The Warriors (10-13) then added a
two-run shot in the bottom of the third
inning to make it 4-1.
The Cougars pulled within 4-3 in the top of
the fourth inning on an RBI-double by
Williams and a run-scoring single by
sophomore infielder Jeff Estep.
Indiana Tech broke the game wide open with
five unearned runs in the bottom of the
fourth inning as all the runs came with two
outs after a catcher’s interference call
prolonged the inning and helped the Warriors
push their lead to 9-3.
MVNU got two of the runs back in the top of
the fifth inning to close the gap to 9-5 on
a two-run double to rightfield by McInerney.
The Cougars also added another run in the
top of the sixth inning on a wild pitch to
make it 9-6.
However, Indiana Tech scored the final run
of the game in the bottom of the sixth
inning to close out the 10-6 victory.
Junior right-hander Grant Martin (0-1) took
the loss for MVNU as he gave up seven hits,
two walks, and nine runs (only two earned)
over four innings with five strikeouts.
Junior right-hander Steve Miller tossed the
final two innings and allowed three hits and
one run.
McInerney led the offensive attack with
three RBI, while Brockly and Williams each
scored two runs apiece.
The Cougars will close out their spring trip
on Saturday with a doubleheader against
Huntington that will start at 10:00 a.m.
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The second game started well for MVNU as
freshman Brian Brockly led off the game with
a double to left center and was bunted to
third. A ground out by senior catcher Travis
McInerney (right) to second base plated Brockly for
an early 1-0 lead.