SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – In the final regular season home games of his Hall of Fame career, Spring Arbor University head baseball coach Sam Riggleman guided his team to a pair of key Crossroads League victories over Goshen College Friday afternoon. The Cougars defeated the Maple Leafs 5-4 in game one and 1-0 in game two.

With the wins, the Cougars improved to 18-20 on the season and 13-9 in league play, moving them into a third place tie with Bethel College (17-22, 13-9 CL) in the league standings. The top four teams will host a first round game in the upcoming Crossroads League Tournament on Saturday, May 7.

Spring Arbor used the long ball as its primary weapon in Friday's opener. A Jonathan Newman two-run home run highlighted a three run first inning. Then, after Goshen (19-33, 11-15 CL) trimmed the deficit to one, Alex Holley belted his third homer of the season in the bottom of the fifth, a two-run shot that gave the Cougars a 5-2 lead.

The Maple Leafs took advantage of an SAU defensive miscue in the sixth, scoring twice to get within one run, but pitcher Duncan Patterson would slam the door shut in the seventh to earn his fourth win of the season.

Holley and Newman finished with two hits and two RBI apiece, while Conner Lengerich also notched a pair of hits.

Patterson tossed his fourth complete game in as many starts. The right-hander surrendered just two earned runs and struck out five batters.

Offense was at a premium in game two, as SAU pitcher Sam Memmelaar and GC's Travis Grimm refused to allow a single run to cross the plate through the first five innings. Goshen generated one of its few scoring opportunities in the sixth, though, putting a runner in scoring position with only one out. But, Joe Romence would come out of the bullpen and retire the next two batters to end the threat.

After being held scoreless through five frames, the Cougars were finally able to breakthrough in the sixth. Jeremiah Johnson ripped a one out single to center field, and two batters, Jack Driscoll, who entered as a pinch runner, would come around to score on an error.

The Maple Leafs put the tying run on base in the seventh, but Romence would work his way out of the jam to complete the doubleheader sweep.

Lengerich picked up two more hits in the game, including a double. Memmelaar pitched 5.1 innings allowing five hits while fanning three. Romence did not surrender a single hit over 1.2 innings of relief on the way to earning his second win of the campaign.

Spring Arbor will look to clinch a top four spot in the conference standings when it wraps up its regular season slate at Marian University (16-27, 6-14 CL) on Tuesday, May 3.

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