After the two teams split a doubleheader on Friday with Geneva taking the first game 5-4 in eight innings and the Lady Cougars bouncing back for a 5-0 win in the nightcap to force a deciding game, the two teams battled through three scoreless innings on Saturday.

Then, in the top of the fourth inning, the host Golden Tornadoes (22-12) got singles from Ashley Archer and Amy Pearce to put runners at first and third with two outs. A double steal gave Geneva a 1-0 lead and an RBI-single by Kim Slater put the Golden Tornadoes on top 2-0.

MVNU (19-13) got one of the runs back in the bottom of the fourth inning when freshman second baseman Kristin Kurelic led off with a double and later came around to score on a sacrifice fly by sophomore designated player Staci Graham (left) to trim the lead to 2-1.

The score remained that way until the bottom of the sixth inning when sophomore shortstop Tasha Konkle led off with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch, and came around to score on a one-out triple by sophomore outfielder Leslie Banichar to knot the score at 2-2.

Graham, who was the offensive hero of Friday’s second game with a grand slam to keep the Lady Cougars’ title hopes alive, came through again with a sacrifice fly to centerfield to put MVNU on top 3-2. The lead would hold up as Geneva was retired in order in the top of the seventh inning as the Lady Cougars earned their first berth in the NCCAA National Tournament since 2004.

Junior right-hander Candace White (10-8) earned the win on the mound for MVNU as she limited the Golden Tornadoes to six hits and two runs over seven innings with five strikeouts and no walks.

Archer (11-7) suffered the loss for Geneva despite allowing just four hits and three runs over six innings with no walks and one strikeout.

Konkle had two singles to lead the Lady Cougars at the plate, while Kurelic doubled and Banichar (right) tripled. Graham also registered two sacrifice flies. Samantha Bautista went 3-for-3 to collect half of the Golden Tornadoes’ six hits - all singles.

MVNU squared off with Malone College in a non-conference game to close out the day as the Lady Pioneers (12-18) decided not to play for the NCCAA East Region title but wanted to get games in anyway.

The Lady Cougars manufactured an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning after Konkle singled to lead off the inning, moved to second on a bunt by Kurelic, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and came in on a run-scoring ground out by Banichar.

MVNU tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth inning on singles by junior third baseman Karly Clay and junior outfielder Whitney Clark combined with an error that increased the lead to 2-0.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the lead grew to 4-0 when sophomore catcher Caitlin Murphy reached on a one-out single and then scored on sophomore outfielder Lauretta Wallace’s two-out, two-run homer - her second of the year.

Malone avoided being shut out in the top of the seventh inning when Morgan Heacock lined a two-out, RBI-double to plate Sarah Kosmos, who had reached on a one-out pinch-hit single. Elizabeth Sarkissian followed with a single, but Heacock was thrown out at the plate by Banichar to complete the Lady Cougars’ 4-1 victory.

Senior right-hander Kristin Eyerman (left) (9-4) earned the victory - the 40th of her career - as she allowed just four hits, two walks, and one run with eight strikeouts.

Kathryn Bzdafka started and took the loss for the Lady Pioneers as she gave up four hits and one run over three innings with two strikeouts. Jessica Krska tossed the final three innings and allowed five hits, one walk, and three runs with one strikeout.

Banichar went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Lady Cougars, while Wallace’s home run was the team’s only extra base hit. Heacock’s double was Malone’s extra bas hit to go with three singles.

MVNU will return to action on Tuesday when the Lady Cougars host Ohio Dominican University in an important American Mideast Conference South Division doubleheader. The action is slated to get under way at 3:00 p.m., but the start may be moved up to help the team get an earlier start on the trip to the NCCAA National Tournament in Florida. Stay tuned to the cougars.mvnu.edu for any changes to the start time. Eyerman, the team’s lone senior, will also be honored on Tuesday.

As for the NCCAA National Tournament, the double elimination event will be held at Palm Beach Atlantic (Fla.) University with the action getting under way on Thursday. More details about the tournament schedule and the teams in the tournament field will be released as it becomes available.