Cougars Split MCC Twinbill with No. 10 Spring Arbor


	Cougar Baseball Recap Cougars Split MCC Twinbill with No. 10 Spring Arbor written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director Game 1 Boxscore \| Game 2 Boxscore MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (3-31-2012) - The Mount Vernon Nazarene University baseball team got two solid performances out of their starting pitchers, but the Cougars were unable to get the timely hits in the first game as MVNU split a Mid-Central College Conference doubleheader with NAIA No. 10 Spring Arbor (Mich.) University losing 2-1 in the first game and then winning 7-1 in game two at Cougar Field on Saturday afternoon. Spring Arbor (24-3, 9-3 MCC) got on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning of game one when Zachary Rediker was hit by a pitch with one out, moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third when Mark Weist's fly ball to rightfield was dropped, and then scored on a single through the left side of the infield by Justin Forster for a 1-0 lead. However, the visiting Cougars were unable to do any more damage as back-to-back strikeouts looking left the bases loaded. MVNU was finally able to push across a run and knot the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sophomore designated hitter Seth Eller walked and advanced to third on a single to rightfield by sophomore Jeff Stone. Freshman outfielder Jake Dickerson grounded into a double play, but Eller was able to scamper home to tie up the game. The two teams remained deadlocked until the top of the seventh inning when Tyler Krobetzky led off with a double down the rightfield line and then advanced to third base on a fly out to right. After Tyler Baker was hit by a pitch to put runners at the corners, Derek Brown gave Spring Arbor 2-1 lead with a squeeze bunt back to the mound. That would prove to be the final score as MVNU went out in order in the bottom of the seventh inning as the host Cougars suffered their first loss of the year at home after winning the first six in a row. Senior right-hander Kyle Barr (3-1) suffered the loss despite allowing just four hits, one walk, and two runs (only one earned) over seven innings with 10 strikeouts against a Spring Arbor team that was averaging less than four strikeouts per game on the season. Barr moved into seventh place in school history with 238 career strikeouts as he passed Joe Lazor (237) and Efrain Montero (236). He also moved into eighth place in career innings pitched (239.2) as he edged around Mark Coulter (238.0) and Mike Laughlin (239.1). Mitchel Patterson (4-0) earned the victory for Spring Arbor as he allowed just three hits, two walks, and one run over seven innings with six strikeouts. Offensively, Stone, Dickerson, and freshman second baseman Sterling Harpst each collected on hit apiece for MVNU, while Krobetzky led Spring Arbor at the plate by going 2-for-3. "This was a fantastic game to compete in," said MVNU coach Keith Veale. "Both pitchers threw exceptionally well and it was unfortunate that we came up short. I thought it came down to our minor lapse in the first inning and their leadoff double that set them up for the winning run. Their pitcher threw three quality pitches for strikes and kept us off balance the entire day. Kyle matched him, but the one swing in the seventh was the difference." After not being able to take a lead through the first three games of the four-game series with Spring Arbor, MVNU finally jumped on top in the bottom of the third inning of Saturday's second game to end the 23-inning stretch of not being on top. The host Cougars took advantage of an error to score the first run and then freshman outfielder Kenny McCambridge scored the second run on a wild pitch to give MVNU a 2-0 lead. The Cougars extended the lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning when sophomore outfielder Sean Fleming led off the frame with a double to right center and then advanced to third base on a balk. One out later, senior first baseman Josh Roberts hit a sacrifice fly to plate the runner. Spring Arbor trimmed the lead to 3-1 in the top of the sixth inning when Baker hit a two-out RBI single up the middle to get the visiting Cougars on the scoreboard. However, MVNU answered with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning - all after the first two batters were retired - to take a commanding 7-1 lead. Harpst and sophomore outfielder Robert Kane both drove in a run with a single, while Fleming added a two-run single to cap off the scoring. Despite a scoring threat in the top of the seventh inning, the host Cougars were able to get out of the jam and left two more runners on base as MVNU prevailed 7-1 in the game. Junior lefty Justin Brown (3-2) *(right)* went the distance on the mound for the Cougars as he scattered nine hits, four walks, and one run over seven innings with five strikeouts. Dane Staples (2-1) started the game for Spring Arbor and took the loss as he allowed three hits, three walks, and three runs over seven innings with three strikeouts. Bryan Baldwin came on in relieft and retired two batters while also giving up three its and three runs with one strikeout. Nick Lockman failed to get an out as he gave up a hit and a run before Zach Wedesky got the final out after walking one batter. Harpst paced the MVNU offense by going 3-for-3 with two runs scored, while Fleming was 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored. Meanwhile, Justin Forster paced Spring Arbor with three hits, and Baker added two hits. "This was another well-pitched game through four innings," said Veale. "We got some help on the throwing error in the third inning to score a couple of runs. Sean led off the fifth inning with a double to set up the next run. We scored four runs with two outs in the sixth inning which was great to give Justin some breathing room in the seventh." "Justin did a great job mixing pitches and keeping their potent lineup in check," Veale added. "When he found himself in trouble, he seemed to be able to make pitches to end the threats. I like what Sean did in game two. We didn't start him in game one due to (Spring Arbor) starting a left-handed pitcher. He didn't complain or mope. He just responded in a big way on the field in game two. He was in the thick of all our scoring innings. Sterling and Clint (Spencer) gave us some solid at bats in the bottom of the lineup as well." "Looking back on the series, one one hand I feel fortunate that we got a win," Veale concluded. "On the other hand, we lost two one-run games, self-imploded in game one, and finished with a 7-1 victory. It would not have taken much to turn this series to 3-1 in our favor. (Spring Arbor) plays the details of the game better than we do at this point. But, we were right there competing throughout the four games. We may look back and find that getting the final game victory today is huge in the playoff picture at the end of the season. We have lots of baseball ahead." The Cougars are slated to return to action on Tuesday with another home MCC doubleheader against Marian (Ind.) University that is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.

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