Concordia University extended their winning streak to five games, defeating the University of Mary (n.d.) 7-1 in game one of a Saturday morning doubleheader at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. But the streak was snapped in game two as the Marauders pulled off a 7-4 win over the Golden Bears in Northern Sun action.
With the split, Concordia is now 15-5 overall, 4-2 in the NSIC while UMary is 6-13 overall and 2-4 in league play.
In the first game, Concordia broke a third inning scoreless tie when shortstop Derek Mason led things off with a double and came in to score on an rbi double to right center by second baseman Jake Waldman.
With senior Matt Borman (top right) on the mound, the Bears were able to shut down the Marauder offense. Borman cruised through the first four innings, allowing just two hits and a walk. He ran into some trouble in the fifth, loading the bases as he allowed a single to right field in between a pair of walks. He was able to pitch out of the jam, however as he forced a pop out to mason, who retrieved the high fly in short left field.
After pitching out of the jam, the Concordia bats woke up, scoring four one-out runs thanks to an rbi single by Mason and a bases clearing three run double down the left field line by Waldman. After a Jake Schmidt ground out to third, Andy Judkins (left) stepped up and connected on a two run home run to right field, clearing 'the baggie' over the 327 foot sign.
After the six run inning, Borman's pitching line was complete. He went five shutout innings, scattering three hits and three walks while striking out four in 99 pitches. Borman earned the victory and improved to 4-0.
He was relieved by Aaron Pfalzgraff, who worked one inning, surrendering one run on a leadoff solo home run. He also walked two and struck out one.
Left hander Kirk Ingram came in to close out the game, working a perfect 1-2-3 seventh on just 12 pitches.
In the second game, the Marauders jumped on Concordia starter Blake Devries early with a first inning three run home run to right field.
They extended their lead to 5-0 in the fourth, knocking Devries from the game with two outs. Bryan Bach came in to make his first appearance of the season and got a fly out on the first pitch to get out of the jam with runners on second and third.
Devries went 3.2 innings and struck out six Marauders but was forced to throw 76 pitches as he issued four walks and surrendered five hits to allow five runs. He took the loss, falling to 3-2 on the year.
The Bears got three runs back in the bottom of the fourth, capitalizing on UMary errors. With one out, Concordia drilled a pair of singles to put runners on first and second. After a John Maciej fly out, Mason grounded into what appeared to be an inning ending fielder's choice.
But UMary's throw sailed wide of second base and into right field, scoring Mason Reinhart from second and advancing Judkins to third. With two on and two out, catcher Greg Winegarden smacked a two run double to the right center field gap, bringing the Bears to within two, 5-3.
After Bach struck out the side in the fifth, stranding a pair of runners, the Bears added another run in the bottom half of the inning, capitalizing on two more UMary errors. Schmidt came in to score on a Judkins single after the two Marauders.
The rbi single cut the score to 5-4 but forced Mary starter Mike Allen from the game. Andrew Bartlett came in and closed the door on the cu rally, striking out pinch hitter Tony Boxwell and getting Mason to ground into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
The Bears would only get one base runner the rest of the way and UMary added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh defeat Concordia 7-4.
The two teams will complete their four game series tomorrow with a doubleheader at noon. The game is scheduled to be played at Barnes Field, weather permitting. Check the Concordia Athletics website for updates.
