Baseball Falls Twice to USF
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio. — The Mount Vernon Nazarene University baseball team (13-5, 3-3 CL) began its home series with the University of Saint Francis (7-10, 5-1 CL) on Saturday, March 8 with a doubleheader at the Cougar Baseball Field.
Game 1 Summary:
USF set the tone early, jumping all over MVNU with seven runs in the top of the first inning to take control of game one. The guests on the scoreboard added another run in the top of the third, putting them up 8-0. MVNU's offense got going in the bottom of the frame as it pushed across a pair of runs to begin to cut into USF's lead. Rider Minnick hit an RBI single that scored Grant Wheeler, followed by Brady Lester hitting a sac-fly that scored Grant Moore.
After adding a run in the fifth inning off a wild pitch, MVNU hit a sac-fly each from Wheeler and Minnick, making the score 5-8. USF plated a run in the top eighth to go up 9-5. Moore doubled for MVNU in the bottom of the inning, scoring Zackary Hoop, but that run would be the last of the game for MVNU. In the end, MVNU fell by a final score of 9-6.
Despite his team's loss, Kaid Carpenter pitched 7.2 strong innings of relief for the Cougars. Carpenter allowed five hits and two unearned runs while also striking out three batters.
Game 2 Summary:
Saint Francis struck in the top of the first with a pair of runs, taking a 2-0 lead. MVNU responded in the bottom of the frame with a sac-fly from Minnick that scored Wheeler. The Cougars tied the game in the second inning after Alejandro Delgado hit an RBI single to center field that scored Lester.
Saint Francis reclaimed the lead with a run in the fifth and added extra security with two more runs in the sixth to go up 5-2. MVNU was unable to mount a comeback on offense and fell by the score of 5-2. Jared Hulburt started for MVNU, allowing five hits and four unearned runs. Hulburt had five strikeouts in game two.
What's Next:
MVNU will finish its season series with USF on Monday, March 10 at Cougar Field. The doubleheader is slated to begin at 1:00 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.