Concordia-St. Paul (19-7, 8-2 NSIC) fell at home 10-8 to Hamline (14-15) Thursday afternoon at Robert E. Barnes Field. The Pipers started strong, scoring three runs in the first inning. But they ended stronger, scoring six runs in the top of the ninth inning to reclaim a 10-7 lead after Erik Quarberg smashed a go-ahead grand slam in the bottom of the eighth. The Bears responded with a rally in the ninth, scoring one run, but they fell two runs short.
Each team rallied for 16 hits in the game. The Bears also drew seven walks while only issuing one. The Bears had plenty of chances to blow the game open but left 15 runners on base.
Quarberg finished the game 3-6 with four RBIs, his sixth homerun, and a double. Bobby Meier went 4-5 with a RBI, and he was also hit by a pitch in the ninth inning. Jon Schemmel, Chris Duda, and Galen Wetzell each had two hits, and Mason Reinhart walked four times for Concordia.
Nick Davis settled down after allowing three runs in the first, as he shut down the Pipers for the next four innings, allowing CU to tie the score at three. But Davis ran into trouble in the sixth, allowing Hamline to retake a 4-3 lead.
Brian Bach took the loss for Concordia, falling to 0-1.
The Bears return to the diamond this weekend when they host a pair of doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday against NSIC rival Southwest Minnesota State. Saturday's action begins at 1:30 with Sunday's games starting at noon.
