Cougars Defeat Bethel in Crossroads League Tournament Play-In

HUNTINGTON, Ind. — The Mount Vernon Nazarene University baseball team (23-24, 17-19 CL) kept its season alive with a 5-3 win against Bethel University (19-30, 12-24 CL) in the Crossroads League Baseball Tournament Play-In, hosted by Huntington University on Wednesday, May 3.

No.5 MVNU jumped on top of No.8 Bethel early with a run in the bottom of the first on an RBI from Casey Kalman that scored Hogan Heck. Bethel claimed the lead with runs in the top of the fourth and fifth innings, but MVNU responded with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to take control of the game for good. Kalman hit his second RBI of the day, Joe Poremsky hit a two-run double to right-center, and Poremsky later would score from third via error. Bethel pushed across one more run in the top of the seventh, but the Cougars held on to secure the win.

Logan Fox was the winning Cougar pitcher as he gave up just four hits and one earned run in six innings. Fox had three strikeouts. Maxwell Donawa pitched two strong innings of relief as he allowed just two hits and a run while striking out three. Cruz McFadden earned his 11th save of the season. The righty gave up two hits and had a strikeout in his inning of work.

What’s Next

With the win, MVNU advances to the Crossroads League six-team double elimination tournament. The Cougars will play the hosts, No.2 Huntington University on Thursday, May 4 at 11:00am.