CROWLEY, LA. – John Melvin (LA) returned to conference play after facing a tough opponent in Paris Junior College last weekend for another road trip this weekend to face off against NSAC opponent John Melvin Christian College (FL). JMU had already swept JMCC at home earlier in the season and were now looking to clinch the first ever Kingdom Cup between the two schools.

Game one was all Millers from the start. JMU scored two runs in the first inning and another five runs in the third inning to take a commanding 7-1 lead early in the game. The Miller offense raked up 13 hits and 11 runs in total, led by multi-hit games from Connor Pleasant, JT Teuton, and Cabet Blanchard. The sub players stepped up when they were called on late in the game with Josh Guidroz, Gavin Walker, and Tyler Knippers all getting hits off the bench. Caleb Ougel was shutdown on the mound in game one, working seven innings and allowing just one earned run on three hits in the start; picking up his fourth win of the season. Freshman Brian Ellendar took the mound to throw the last two innings of the game and was as close to perfect as you can get, allowing no hits, no walks, and striking out five of the six batters that he faced.

Game two started out just like game one and was all Millers from the start. JMU scored four runs in the second inning and three more in the third inning to again, take a commanding 7-0 lead early in the game. Sophomore Eli Musgraves was the leader of the offense in game two, working a three for three day at the plate, scoring two runs and picking up two RBI’s. The offense was on fire from top to bottom in the game with 9 Millers picking up a hit and 6 Millers picking up multi-hit games. Freshman Jack Day was a key piece to the offense, picking up two hits and three RBI’s out of the nine hole. Freshman Bebe King went the distance on the mound in game two, throwing a six inning complete game shutout and allowing just four hits, clinching his first career win on the mound.

Game three was a classic pitchers dual between JMU starter Bryce Oquinn and JMCC starter Cole Crocker. Oquinn threw five innings on just 62 pitches, allowing two runs on just two hits and walking nobody. Senior Willy Flynn entered the game after Oquinn, picking up the win on the mound and closing out the Millers sweep with two innings of one run ball. While hits and runs were tough to come by for the majority of the game, Junior catcher Trevor Durr stepped up to lead the offense with three hits, a double, and four RBI’s. Freshman Braeden Morgan also had a multi-hit game and had the dagger in the final inning when he hit a two RBI double to extend the Millers lead to three runs.

The Millers remain a perfect 10-0 in conference play and have a four-game lead over second place in the NSAC standings. JMU has two conference series remaining, facing Lighthouse Christian at home this upcoming weekend and the final series against JMCC at home the following weekend.

Story and image courtesy JMU Athletics