NASHVILLE – Trevecca Nazarene (26-18, 7-5 G-MAC) visited Cedarville University (21-11, 6-4 G-MAC) for the decisive conference series. The teams split a double header on Friday with Trevecca winning game one 5-4 and Cedarville taking the second game 4-3.

The teams will play another double-header on Saturday. Trevecca needs to win both games to win the regular season title. With a single win the Yellow Jackets will be declared the 2013 G-MAC Champs. 

The CU/TNU season series has been a tight so far this season. So far, three of the four games have been one run decisions. The Trojans previously won two games over the Yellow Jackets on March 30th, winning 4-2 and 6-5 in Nashville.

Game One

It was reported that as many as eight pro scouts were in attendance to watch Cedarville pitcher David Ledbetter (5-5), but it was Trojan hurler Dylan Kuhn (4-1) who put on a show. Kuhn followed up his complete game shutout last week with a six and two-thirds inning performance for the win today. Kuhn had a no-hitter working into the sixth inning and had five strikeouts. Kuhn eventually allowed five hits, eight walks, and four runs – all earned.

Mason Dunn (2) came on for the save by getting the final Yellow Jacket out in the seventh.

Trevecca broke into the scoring column first with a run in the fourth and added three in the sixth for a 4-0 lead. It was in the Cedarville half of the sixth that the no-hitter ended for Kuhn. Chris Ward opened the frame with a double. The shutout ended after an infield single moved Ward to third. The Trojans turned a double play next, but Ward scored from third.

Hunter Newman and Corey Crunk each went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Newman added a stolen base, two runs scored, and a walk. Crunk added a stolen base.

Newman walked in the fourth, advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a Blake Rogers ground out, and scored on a Crunk single.

In the sixth, Mark Rayburn singled and scored an out later a Newman single. Rogers singled through the left side and stole second then advanced to third on the throw. On the same play, Newman stole third and scored on a throwing error. Finally, Crunk delivered an RBI-single, scoring Rogers.

The final Trojan run came in the seventh when Rayburn reached on a hit-by-pitch with two out in the inning. Jordan Foreman and Newman produced back-to-back singles to score Rayburn. 

The Jackets scored three times in the bottom of the seventh inning, but left the tying run at third base to end the contest and move the Trojans into first place for the moment.

CU's Ward singled in the first run in the seventh. Cam McWilliams scored on a wild pitch and Logan Kasabian added an RBI groundout.

Game Two

Cedarville starting pitcher Rob Nesteroff (3-0) into the seventh inning before Sean Larkin did enough to hold off Trevecca's rally to earn his third save.

CU scored two in the second, but Trevecca answered with a run in the third. CU pulled ahead 4-1 with two runs in their half of the third. Trevecca made things interesting with a run in the fourth and another in the seventh.

Trevecca threatened in each of the final three innings. With two out in the Trojan seventh, Trevecca had runners at first and third and Cedarville leading 4-3. Enter Larkin, who came on escaped when his first pitch was popped up into foul territory for the final out.

In the eighth and ninth innings Trevecca put runners on first and second with one out.  Unfortunately the Yellow Jackets were able to for fly balls to retire the next two Trojan batters in each inning. 

Rob Rowland (5-4) took the loss with six innings of work. He allowed seven hits and two walks while striking out four. He allowed four runs, but only two were earned. Trevecca pounded out 11 hits in support, but left 14 runners on base. Bryan Smith pitched the final two innings and allowed just one hit and stuck out two.

Nesteroff allowed three earned runs in six and two-thirds work.. Larkin gave up just two hits the rest of the way.

Jordan Foreman was 3-for-5 while Corey Crunk also had three hits, going 3-for-5. Crunk added a stolen base.

The Yellow Jackets regained first place in the league at 6-4 while Trevecca is half a game back at 7-5.

The teams will play a pair of games on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. Catch live audio (click) and live stats (click) of both games.

Again, the scene setter is that if Cedarville wins either game they will be the 2013 G-MAC Champions. If Trevecca wins both they will take home the first G-MAC title.