The Golden Bears (29-11, 15-7 NSIC) received a huge power surge on a rainy Sunday afternoon in Fayette, Iowa led by two-time defending NSIC player of the week Matt Borman, who slugged three home runs. The Bears hit seven home runs this afternoon to sweep Upper Iowa (29-21, 18-11 NSIC) 6-4 and 9-6, taking three of four in the pivotal final series of the Northern Sun's regular season.

With the series win over the Peacocks, Concordia University jumps into fourth place in the NSIC standings, knocking Upper Iowa to fifth. The Bears will advance to the four team double-elimination NSIC tournament to face top seed and host Wayne State on Thursday, May 10 at 3:00 in Wayne, Neb.

The Bears finished strong, going 11-1 down the stretch this season led by Borman's bat. The senior leadoff hitter hit .511 in the final 12 games, including nine home runs, 19 runs and 25 rbi. He slugged 1.213 and was four of five on the base paths.

Game One:
Trailing 4-1 heading into the fifth inning, Borman stepped up and smashed a two run home run, bringing the score to 4-3. Jake Waldman followed with a walk and scored when Jake Schmidt drilled an rbi double to left center to tie the score at four.

The Bears manufactured two more runs in the sixth inning when Waldman hit an rbi single to left and Schmidt hit a sacrifice fly to right field.

Blake Devries started for the Bears and worked a scoreless first inning before giving way to a long rain delay. Devries did not return to the mound after the long layoff between innings.

Schmidt relieved Devries and worked three innings, allowing all four runs while striking out three.

Borman stepped in for Schmidt in the fifth inning and finished strong, pitching three one hit innings facing just 10 batters to register his seventh win, improving to 7-1.

Borman and Waldman each had two hit performances. Borman finished 2-4 while Waldman was 2-2. They each drove in a pair as did Schmidt, who went 1-3.

Game Two:
The catalyst for the Golden Bear run this season, Matt Borman started things off hot for Concorida in the second game, hitting another leadoff homer to put the Bears ahead.

Although the Peacocks would go ahead 4-2 after two innings on a first inning three run home run and a second inning solo shot, the tone was set for Concordia.

The Bears went deep four times in a seven run third inning outburst, led by Borman's second of the game, a two run shot. Schmidt led the inning off with a solo blast while John Maciej hit a two run shot and Derek Mason followed with a back-to-back homer.

That provided the Bears with a 9-4 lead. The Peacocks scored two more in the fifth but were overpowered by Devries who worked five innings in relief, striking out seven. Three of his strikeouts were registered as he retired the last eight batters of the game.

Devries earned the save for the Bears after Aaron Pfalzgraff picked up the win. Pfalzagraff needed to retire just one Peacock as he ended the second inning for the Bears, throwing just five pitches to improve to 3-0.

Borman and Maciej each had two hits and three rbi. Borman was 2-4 with two home runs, giving him 14 on the year. Maciej was 2-2 while his homer was his second of the season. Schmidt and Mason each have three home runs after their third inning shots.

Concordia's strong finish also vaulted them to their school record 29 wins for the third straight year. The Bears finished 29-12 in 2005, 29-12-1 in 2006 and are currently 29-1 heading into the NSIC Tournament.

cu 6, upper iowa 4
cu 9, upper iowa 6