Baseball Closes Florida Trip with Win against Mount Marty
MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Mount Vernon Nazarene University baseball team (9-4) wrapped up its spring break trip in the Sunshine State with games against the University of Fort Lauderdale (14-8) and Mount Marty University (7-6) on Tuesday, March 3.
MVNU dropped the first game of the day by a final score of 11-5. UFL struck first in the game, taking a 1-0 lead in the opening inning. It tacked two more runs on in the top of the third, taking a 3-0 lead. MVNU battle back, responding with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Carter LaPata came home from third after a wild pitch, and Kaid Carpenter drove home Brady Lester a few at-bats later with an RBI single to left field. UFL added two runs in the top of the fourth, but MVNU responded once again with two of its own in the bottom of the inning. Kevin Inman ripped a single to centerfield, and an error allowed Tyler Ooten to score. The error in center was a costly one for UFL as Inman also would come all the way around to score, making the score 5-4, UFL. UFL stayed hot at the plate, scoring three runs each in the fifth and sixth innings to extend its lead to 11-4. MVNU did manage to add two runs in the bottom of the seventh but could not find any more offense to escape defeat.
MVNU bounced back in the second game of the day against Mount Marty, thanks to a fourth inning home run from Jack Schreck. The solo shot was Schreck's first career home run, and the only run of the game between the two teams. MVNU closed its spring break trip with a 1-0 win over Mount Marty.
MVNU's pitching staff was excellent in the win. Grant Peters got the win for MVNU after pitching four scoreless innings and allowing just two hits to go with three strikeouts. Austin Fox pitched four innings of relief, allowing just one hit while striking out six batters. Chase Storr picked up the save after pitching a clean ninth inning.
What's Next
MVNU faces the University of Saint Francis in a Crossroads League matchup in Fort Wayne, Indiana on Friday, March 6. The doubleheader begins at 12:00 p.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.