Baseball Opens Florida Trip with Two Wins over Bethel

MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Mount Vernon Nazarene University baseball team (6-2, 2-0 CL) began its trip to the sunshine state with a crossroads league matchup against Bethel University (1-6, 0-2 CL) on Friday, February 27.

MVNU and Bethel each got off to a slow start at the plate as no runs were scored through the first five innings of the game. MVNU finally broke through in the top of the sixth, scoring two runs. Tyler Ooten hit an RBI double that brought home Ryan Willoughby, followed by an RBI double from Brennen Nichols that scored Ooten. In the seventh, Brady Lester's double to right field would score Alejandro Delgado. The Cougars tacked on their final run of the game at the top of the ninth when Andrew Hobbs scored after a wild pitch. MVNU would win by a final score of 4-0. Jared Hurlburt pitched a gem, going seven strong and getting the win on the mound. The senior allowed just four hits and no runs, while striking out nine batters. Chase Storr pitched the final two innings. Storr had three strikeouts while allowing only two hits and no runs.

In game two, MVNU relied on the arm of Reese Willoughby, who carried the Cougars to a 1-0 win. The senior was sensational on the mound, pitching six shutout innings. Willoughby had nine strikeouts and allowed just three hits. MVNU's lone run came in the top of the seventh inning after Nichols scored an unearned run after an error at third base. Caden Conn came in for the Cougars in the bottom of the inning and earned the save. Conn allowed no hits and had two strikeouts in his inning of work on the mound.

What's Next

MVNU concludes its four-game series with the Pilots on Saturday, February 28. The doubleheader is set to begin at 10:00 a.m.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, 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 2,200 students from 36 states, 1 U.S. commonwealth and 41 foreign countries.