VIERA, Fla. — The Mount Vernon Nazarene University baseball team (6-3) swept the University of Fort Lauderdale (10-13) in the RussMatt Games on Tuesday, March 6, by scores of 3-2 and 2-0.
Hunter Billman continued his hot start to the season in game one for MVNU. Billman got the Cougars on the board in the top of the first with a double to rightfield that scored Hogan Heck. MVNU extended its lead in the inning with RBIs from Rider Minnick and Blaine Keener.
The 3-0 lead ended up being all the runs MVNU needed as it went on to win the game by a final of 3-2. Cruz McFadden picked up his third save of the season, striking out all three batters that he faced. Jarin Bertke put together a great start for the Cougars. The sophomore pitched five innings, allowing eight hits and one earned run. Bertke had four strikeouts.
MVNU pitching shut out UFL and got the only runs they needed to win the second game of the doubleheader from Brady Wallace, who batted in a run in the third and scored on a wild pitch in the sixth.
The MVNU pitching staff imposed its will on Fort Lauderdale. Logan Fox struck out two in one inning of work. Josh Pettit pitched three innings of shutout baseball, striking out two and allowing no hits. Pettit was credited with the win for MVNU. Freshman Johnny Nixon stuck out three in his two innings of work, allowing two hits and no runs. McFadden picked up his second save of the day and fourth of the season.
