Concordia University (22-10, 10-6 NSIC) picked up two more wins, defeating Northern State (10-34, 6-18 NSIC) 9-5 and 14-1 on Saturday afternoon in Aberdeen, S.D. The Bears flexed their muscles lifting five home runs in the twin bill.
Concordia had two more solid starts from their hurlers as
Blake Devries pitched a complete game to improve to 4-3 while
Eric Utoft pitched six strong in the second game to move to 3-2.
Derek Mason put the Bears on the board first in the second inning in
Game One, drilling an rbi double to right center scoring
Mason Reinhart who reached base on a fielder's choice after a leadoff single by
Tony Boxwell.
They added four more runs in the third on a pair of two run home runs by B
ndy Judkins and Reinhart. It was Judkins fourth blast while Reinhart went deep for the first time in 2007.
Northern State matched Concordia's four runs in the bottom of the inning when Justin Downes connected for a grand slam.
But the Bears would never relinquish the lead with
John Maciej drilling an insurance two run double to left in the sixth while Mason added another two run double to right center in the top of the seventh.
The Wolves would add their fifth run in the seventh but were unable to mount a comeback against Devries.
Devries went the distance striking out nine batters. He allowed five runs on eight hits in the process but was too overpowering for the wolves with the exception of the Downes grand slam.
Mason finished 3-3 with three rbi while Reinhart was 2-3 with four runs and two rbi.
In game two, Judkins delivered a grand slam in the first inning to put the Wolves in a quick 4-0 hole that they would soon find out they would never recover from. It was Judkins' fourth home run on the season.
That's when the Bears opened up the flood gates with
Matt Borman providing the fireworks. Borman connected on two three-run home runs in the second inning alone to spark a 10 run outburst by CU. After the two shots, Borman now has eight home runs on the season.
That was all the Concordia offense needed for the afternoon as the Wolves were finally able to hold the Bears to some zero's on the scoreboard, blanking them for the remaining five innings.
utoft cruised, scattering six hits and two walks as he allowed one run and registered six strikeouts.
Bryan Bach pitched a scoreless seventh, striking out a pair.
Borman finished the game 2-3 with the two three run blasts while also drawing a walk and scoring three runs.
Concordia only left three runners on base in the second game of the doubleheader and will look to continue their efficiency tomorrow afternoon in the second doubleheader of the four game series with the Wolves.
cu 9, northern state 5
cu 14, northern state 1
