MVNU Baseball Defeats Grace Twice

 The Mount Vernon Nazarene University baseball team (9-7, 6-4 CL) claimed two victories over the Grace College Lancers (9-12, 1-9 CL) on Monday, March 20.

In a high scoring affair, MVNU used a five-run inning in the sixth to take control of game one. A Ty Williams RBI gave the Cougars a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth. Holden Blankenship and Joe Poremsky each batted in two runs, extending MVNU’s lead to 8-3. A grand slam in the top of the seventh brought the Lancers back within one run, but Hunter Billman’s fourth homer of the season, a two-run shot, extended MVNU’s advantage to three. Cruz McFadden picked up his sixth save of the season, putting away the Lancers in the ninth. Josh Pettit got the start on the mound and the win in the end. The righthander pitched six and allowed three earned runs. Pettit gave up four hits and had six strikeouts.

The Cougars scored all the runs they needed in the bottom of the fourth inning to come away with the victory. Joe Poremsky ignited the scoring with a three-run bomb to left. Brady Wallace stole third and then scored, giving MVNU a 4-2 lead. Grace tacked on a run in the fifth but could not muster up anything else. McFadden picked up his second save of the day and seventh of the season in the seventh. Logan Fox started on the mound in the 4-3 win. Fox pitched five innings and allowed seven hits. Fox gave up three earned runs and punched out four for the Cougars.

What’s Next

MVNU returns to Cougar Field on Friday, March 24 as it hosts Taylor University for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1:00pm.