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Cougars Take Two One-Run Games from
Huntington
written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director
Game
1 Boxscore |
Game
2 Boxscore
ORMOND BEACH, Fla. (3-20-2010) - The Mount
Vernon Nazarene University baseball team
wrapped up its annual spring trip with a
pair of one-run victories over Huntington
(Ind.) University on Saturday at the Ormond
Beach Sports Complex by the scores of 9-8
and 8-7.
 The Foresters (7-9) took an early 2-0 lead
in the bottom of the first inning of the
first game, but the Cougars (12-4) answered
right back with three runs in the top of the
second inning to move on top 3-2. Sophomore
first baseman Josh Roberts led off with a
single to center and then junior outfielder
Steve Williams blasted a two-run homer to
rightfield to end the team’s drought of 394
at bats and 91 innings without a
round-tripper to start the season. Sophomore
outfielder Chaz Gibson (left) followed with a walk,
stole second, and later came around to score
on an RBI ground out by junior shortstop
Michael Hendren.
Huntington regained the lead 4-3 in the
bottom of the second inning with a pair of
unearned runs and then tacked on another run
in the bottom of the third inning to go in
front 5-3.
Then, in the top of the fourth inning, MVNU
sent 10 batters to the plate, registered six
hits, and took advantage of three Forester
errors to score five runs for an 8-5
advantage. Hendren, Roberts, sophomore
infielder Jeff Estep, and senior catcher
Travis McInerney each had an RBI in the
inning.
The Cougars tacked on an insurance run in
the top of the sixth inning when freshman
outfielder Brian Brockly led off with a
double to center, moved to third on a
sacrifice bunt by Estep, and came around to
score on a sacrifice fly by McInerney to
make it 9-5.
That run would prove to be huge as
Huntington strung together four hits in the
bottom of the seventh inning to pull within
9-8. However, sophomore right-hander Kyle
Barr came on to strikeout the final batter
with the tying run at second base to end the
threat and give MVNU the one-run victory.
The Foresters finished with 11 runners left
on base for the game.
Sophomore right-hander Jerrob Decker (2-0)
started for the Cougars and scattered 10
hits, three walks, and five runs (two
earned) over 4.2 innings with five
strikeouts. Freshman right-hander Darren
Athey gave up four hits and three runs in
two innings of relief, and Barr notched his
first save of the season by striking out the
only batter he faced.
Meanwhile, Brockly, Roberts, and freshman
infielder Jordan Doherty each collected two
hits to pace the 11-hit attack for MVNU, and
Williams, Hendren, and McInerney each drove
in two runs.
The second game would prove to be another
back and forth affair. The Cougars took a
2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning
when Roberts singled up the middle, Williams
doubled down the leftfield line, and Gibson
line a two-run single to left center.
The Foresters answered with three runs in
the top of the third inning to take a 3-2
lead, but the damage could have been worse
as MVNU turned a 5-4-3 double play to end
the inning and prevent any further scoring.
The Cougars wasted little time in taking the
lead back as Brockly led off the bottom of
the third with a triple to rightfield and
came around to score on a single by Doherty
to tie the game at 3-3. McInerney followed
with a two-run home run down the leftfield
line as MVNU moved back on top 5-3.
Not to be outdone, Huntington responded once
again in the top of the fourth inning with a
pair of unearned runs to knot the score at
5-5.
The score remained that way until the bottom
of the fifth when Roberts lined a one-out
double down the leftfield line and Williams
was intentionally walked. Gibson followed
with a two-run triple to left center as the
Cougars took a 7-5 lead. Gibson would later
come in to score on a wild pitch with two
outs to increase the lead to 8-5.
That extra run would once again turn out to
be the difference maker when the Foresters
mounted a comeback threat in the top of the
seventh inning. A throwing error allowed the
lead-off batter to reach and he came around
to score on a double. After a single put
runners at first and third with no outs,
Barr was summoned from the bullpen once
again. He induced a 4-6-3 double play from
the first batter he faced as a run scored to
pull Huntington within 8-7. Then, he struck
out the next batter to end the game and
notch another save.
Freshman lefty Justin Brown started for the
Cougars and scattered seven hits, three
walks, and five runs (three earned) over 4.1
innings with three strikeouts. Junior
right-hander Steve Miller (2-0) followed
with 1.2 innings of work in which he allowed
four hits and two unearned runs with one
strikeout as he picked up the win. Barr
closed out the game for his second save as
he got three outs by facing just two batters
and tallied one strikeout.
Gibson was the story on offense as he went
3-for-3 with a single, double, triple, and
four RBI and he would have hit second in the
bottom of the seventh inning with a shot at
a cycle if MVNU would have been forced to
bat again. Brockly and Roberts also added
two hits apiece, and McInerney added two
more RBI.
The Cougars finish their Florida trip with a
9-3 mark to improve to 12-4 overall. MVNU
will be back in action on Tuesday with the
team’s home opener at 4:00 p.m. with a
nine-inning non-conference game against Knox
County rival Kenyon College. | |
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