On February 16, the Mount Vernon Nazarene University baseball team began its spring season at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana, facing Cleary University. The Cougars split the doubleheader, dropping the first game 2-5 and winning the second 7-2.
The opening game saw MVNU’s first run come from a solo home run by Brady Lester in the top of the first inning. Cleary responded with a run in the bottom half and took control with a four-run third inning. Rider Minnick drove home Brennen Nichols with an RBI single in the seventh, but MVNU was unable to close the gap further.
In game two, Alejandro Delgado started strong for MVNU with another solo homer in the first inning. The offense continued in the fourth as Kaid Carpenter hit an RBI double to score Ryan Willougby, followed by Carter LaPata’s single that brought Carpenter home. Andrew Moffitt scored on a wild pitch to extend their lead. Additional runs came from wild pitches and timely hitting, securing a 7-2 victory for MVNU. Reese Willoughby earned the win after pitching five innings with four strikeouts, while Chase Storr closed out two scoreless innings.
The series against Cleary is set to conclude on Tuesday, February 17 with a doubleheader starting at noon.
