Senior first baseman Erik Quarberg made history as he blasted a pair of home runs in game two to set the all-time career home run record at Concordia. The two homers give quarberg 24 in his career and helped Concordia (17-9, 3-5 NSIC) sweep Northern State (5-23, 0-6 NSIC) 4-2 and 15-3 on Thursday afternoon at Bob Barnes field. Starting pitchers Geoff Bray and Eric Utoft each recorded complete game victories in the sweep.
Bray (left) allowed just six hits and two runs while striking out six without issuing a walk in the first game to improve to 4-2 on the season while Utoft (right) scattered seven hits and a walk while allowing three runs in the second game. Utoft struck out five and improves to 3-3 on the year.
The duo was successful in keeping runners off base and the only runs they allowed were the five solo home runs by Northern State.
In the first game, Northern State jumped on top with a pair of second inning home runs and they held the 2-0 lead until the bottom of the fifth inning when left fielder Chris Duda jacked a three-run homer to right center to put Concordia on top.
That was all Bray needed as he continued to master the Wolves, but second baseman Jake Waldman drilled a solo shot to left field to provide a sixth inning insurance run.
Bray didn't allow a runner past first base after the two home run second inning and he retired five in a row and seven in a row as he shut down the Wolves' offense.
The Bears, who scored in each of their final two times at the plate in the first game, continued that streak into the second game as they scored at least one run in all six of their times at bat.
They started off the game hot, putting up four in the first and five in the second to open up a commanding 9-0 lead. The four run first was sparked by a three-run bomb by Quarberg to dead center field.
The Bears hit two more home runs in the second, a two-run shot by right fielder Andy Judkins (left),his second of the season before designated hitter Tony Boxwell's (right) three-run blast to left later in the inning.
The home run derby wasn't over as Quarberg belted his second homer to the opposite field as he sent a screamer over the right field fence, his fifth of the season which set the record. Third baseman Mason Reinhart added the final blast in the sixth when he hit a two-run shot to left.
There were eight home runs in the second game, five hit by the Golden Bears. The two game home run total was 12, seven for CU and five for Northern State as the team's capitalized on a steady wind that was blowing out to the left field power alley.
Center fielder Alex Kubal went 3-3 with a run and a steal in the first game while Judkins added a three-hit performance of his own in game two as he went 3-3 with two runs and three rbi.
Kubal (left) also made a game-saving catch in dead center field as he smashed into the fence just a few plays after Bray was pelted in the leg with a line drive, but recovered and threw out the runner before finishing off the Wolves.
In the second game, Quarberg went 2-2 with four runs and four rbi after a 2-3 performance in the first game. He also had a double to go with his two home runs.
The Bears, now winners of three in a row, will look to extend the streak tomorrow as they battle the Wolves for two more at noon at Bob Barnes field.
