Hot Bats Lead Baseball to Win over Cornerstone
DAVENPORT, Fla. — The Mount Vernon Nazarene University baseball team (9-1) played a non-conference game against WHAC opponent Cornerstone University (0-4) at the North East Regional Park on Thursday, February 27.
MVNU came out hot, putting up four runs in the top of the opening inning. Cornerstone responded at the bottom of the inning with a solo home run to cut into MVNU's lead. In the second inning, Brady Lester smashed a grand slam over the left field fence, giving MVNU an 8-1 lead. Later in the inning, Brandon Cokeley hit a ground-rule double that drove in two more runs, giving the Cougars a commanding 10-1 lead after two innings.
The Golden Eagles didn't quit. Cornerstone put together a huge third inning, scoring eight runs to get back into the ballgame. After three, MVNU held a 10-9 lead. Both teams pushed across runs in the fifth inning, but the run for Cornerstone would be its last of the game. The Cougar offense took control once again and was ignited by a solo homer from Tyler Ooten in the sixth to give MVNU a 12-10 lead.
MVNU got two more runs in the seventh inning thanks to a Ryan Willoughby RBI single and an error in the field that scored Cokeley. Three more runs came in the eighth for MVNU after a sac-fly from Cokeley that scored Alejandro Delgado, an error in the field that brought home Carter LaPata, and a sac-fly from Rider Minnick that scored Grant Moore. MVNU would win the game by a final score of 17-10.
Armando Gonzalez was credited with the win on the mound for MVNU. The freshman pitched six innings and gave up three hits and one earned run while striking out eight batters.
What's Next
MVNU will take on New College of Florida in Davenport, Florida on Friday, February 28. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
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.