Cougars' Season Ends with 6-4 Loss to No. 24 Taylor


	Cougar Baseball Recap Cougars' Season Ends with 6-4 Loss to No. 24 Taylor written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director Boxscore MARION, Ind. (5-11-2012) - In the seventh meeting between the two teams and the third one in the last week, the Mount Vernon Nazarene University baseball team saw its season come to an end on Friday afternoon as the Cougars fell 6-4 to NAIA No. 24 Taylor (Ind.) University in the loser's bracket of the NAIA National Championship Opening Round – Marion Bracket at Indiana Wesleyan University. MVNU (33-20), the No. 4 seed in the five-team, double elimination event, got off to a promising start in the game as the Cougars used a leadoff walk to senior designated hitter Jeff Estep, a sacrifice bunt by sophomore outfielder Robert Kane, a single by sophomore first baseman Seth Eller, and an RBI double by sophomore third baseman Jeff Stone to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Freshman outfielder Jake Dickerson followed with a ground out to third base to plate another run as MVNU moved on top 2-0 after its first at bat. However, the Trojans (38-19), who are seeded No. 3 in the tournament, responded with two runs of their own as Michael Nassar drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the first inning and came around to score when Rhett Goodmiller followed with a double. One out later, Ian Nielsen doubled to knot the score at 2-2. After the Cougars went out in order in the top of the second inning, Taylor went back to work in the bottom of the frame. The Trojans took advantage of a throwing error by MVNU on a potential inning-ending double play ball to score one run, and then Ryne Otis, the MCC Player of the Year, blasted a three-run homer to left center to put Taylor on top 6-2. The Cougars inched closer in the top of the fifth inning when Estep led off the inning with a single and then scored on a double by Kane to right center to pull MVNU within 6-3. Meanwhile, senior right-hander Kyle Barr (8-3), the MCC Pitcher of the Year, settled into a nice groove after the second inning as he allowed just two hits and a walk over the next five innings to keep the Cougars in the game. MVNU pulled even closer in the top of the eighth inning as Eller began the frame with a single and one out later Dickerson moved him to third on a single to left center. Junior shortstop Jordan Doherty plated Eller on a fielder's choice as the Cougars closed the gap to 6-4. The Trojans threatened to blow the game wide open in the bottom of the eighth inning when they loaded the bases with two outs, but senior right-handed pitcher Jerrob Decker came on in relief and retired the one batter he faced to give MVNU a shot in its final at bat. After the first two batters were retired in the top of the ninth inning, the Cougars mounted a rally to try to keep their season alive as senior Josh Roberts reached on a throwing error, Kane followed with an infield single, and both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch. However, Eller grounded out on a chopper to third as he was nipped at the first base bag by the throw after hustling down the line as Taylor held on for the 6-4 victory. Barr *(right)* took the loss for MVNU in the final game of his career. He allowed eight hits, three walks, and six runs over 7.2 innings with nine strikeouts. He finishes his stellar four-year career with a 27-12 record to rank tied for fifth in school history in wins, third in strikeouts (292), fourth in innings pitched (291.1), and third in shutouts (8). Decker retired the only batter that he faced. Taylor Luna (8-3) earned the win for the Trojans as he scattered nine hits, two walks, and four runs over eight innings with four strikeouts. Drew Flatford notched his fourth save of the year as he tossed one scoreless inning in which he allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout. Kane led the Cougars by going 3-for-4 at the plate, while Eller and Dickerson both had two hits. Eller and Estep also scored two runs apiece. Goodmiller led Taylor with two hits, while Otis drove in three runs and Nassar scored twice. "I liked our response to our tough loss yesterday," said MVNU coach Keith Veale. "We got on the scoreboard early, but it was short-lived. Kyle struggled for the first three innings with command. This game started out like last week and I thought we were headed for another double-digit scoring affair. However, both pitchers settled in and threw very well in the middle innings. We got to within two (runs) after eight (innings) and had the tying run at second base when the game ended. This team really battled to the end." "Looking back, this was quite a year," reflected Veale. "We went into the new conference and competed well. I have not had a team that has had to fight through this many injuries. It was the constant challenge every time we played. Not one or two guys, it was multiple guys every day. And yet, the team made no excuses and performed remarkably well. Making it to the national tournament is something this team should be proud of. (This team) continued to set the standard high for the years to come." Friday's game was the final game for seniors Barr, Estep, Roberts, Decker, and right-handed pitcher Darren Athey, who all helped the team to three straight NAIA National Championship Opening Round appearances and a 133-85 overall record the past four years.

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