SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The Spring Arbor University baseball team opened Crossroads League play in style on Friday, sweeping a doubleheader against Goshen College at Hank Burbridge Field. The Cougars claimed a 7-6 victory in game one before rolling to an 8-0 shutout in game two to improve to 5-4 overall and 2-0 in league play.
 

Game One | SAU 7, Goshen 6
 
Goshen struck first with two unearned runs in the top of the first inning, but Spring Arbor answered immediately with two runs in the bottom half and added two more in the second to take a 4-2 lead.
 
After the Maple Leafs' early runs, Kyle Kantola entered in relief in the second inning and delivered a dominant outing. The left-hander allowed just one run over 6.0+ innings on three hits while striking out a career-high eight batters to keep SAU in control.
 
The Cougars extended their lead in the seventh when Aiden Brunin ripped an RBI triple and later scored on a balk to make it 6-3. Goshen capitalized on a pair of SAU errors in the eighth, plating three runs to even the score.
 
Spring Arbor responded in the bottom of the inning. Connor Reed reached on a two-out double and came around to score on Brunin's clutch RBI single, his third hit and third RBI of the game. Lucas Dawson shut the door in the ninth, holding Goshen scoreless to secure the win.
 
Brunin finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBIs while Reed added two hits.

 
Game Two | SAU 8, Goshen 0
 
The nightcap belonged entirely to the Cougars.
 
Spring Arbor scored in every inning except the fifth. On the mound, Kyler Hinken was exceptional. The junior carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Goshen broke it up with an infield single. Hinken tossed the first complete-game shutout of his career, allowing just two hits over seven innings while striking out seven.
 
Brenden Phillips went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, and Eli DeVisser drove in two runs. Reed, Brunin, and Braydon Gregory each crossed the plate twice in the win.
 
The Cougars and Maple Leafs will conclude the four-game series with another doubleheader Saturday, Feb. 28 at Hank Burbridge Field beginning at 1 p.m.