Cougars Take Season Series Over Pilots

DAVENPORT, Fla. —  The Mount Vernon Nazarene University baseball team (8-1, 3-1 CL) took the field at North East Regional Park on Wednesday, February 26, to conclude its Crossroads League series in Florida with another doubleheader against the Bethel University Pilots (4-4, 1-3 CL).

Game 1 Summary:

The game remained scoreless until the top of the fourth inning when Bethel took a 1-0 lead over the Cougars with a single to left field. MVNU responded in the bottom of the fifth, tying the game at 1-1 as Grant Moore delivered an RBI single to right field, scoring Grant Wheeler.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Cougars seized control with two runs to go up 3-1. Kaid Carpenter smashed an RBI double to bring home Rider Minnick, followed shortly by Brady Lester's RBI triple that plated Carpenter. Bethel cut the deficit in the top of the eighth, making it 3-2, but MVNU added an insurance run on a Brandon Cokeley RBI to secure the 4-2 victory.

Jarin Bertke got the start, pitching seven innings while allowing four hits, one run, and one earned run, striking out five. Austin Fox came on in relief, throwing two innings and giving up three hits, one run, and one earned run, recording one strikeout.

Game 2 Summary:              

MVNU struck first in the bottom of the first inning, but it proved to be their only run in the second game of the doubleheader. Carpenter's sacrifice fly brought Wheeler home for a 1-0 lead. However, Bethel responded with a run in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, securing a 3-1 victory over the Cougars.

In game two, Reese Willoughby took the mound, pitching five innings while surrendering six hits, three runs, and three earned runs, while striking out four. Caden Conn entered in relief, tossing two scoreless innings without allowing a hit and striking out three.

What's Next:

The Cougars will face the Cornerstone University Golden Eagles from the WHAC in a non-conference matchup on Thursday, Feb. 27, in Davenport, Florida. The single-game contest is set for an 11 a.m. first pitch at North East Regional Park Field.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, four-year, intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students, and working adults. With a 327-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth, and service to community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education both in-seat and online to nearly 2,100 students from 33 states and 26 foreign countries.