In the fourth game of the series, the late inning magic finally belonged to Concordia University (8-6, 2-2 NSIC), who scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Upper Iowa University (4-14, 2-2 NSIC) 3-2 in the second game of the doubleheader against the Peacocks at the Metrodome. The Golden Bears fell in the first game after the Peacocks rallied for a three run sixth inning in an 8-7 decision.

The Peacocks had the late inning bats in the first three games of the series, scoring four in the top of the seventh in a 5-4 loss to CU in the first game yesterday before adding a two run sixth to win a 2-1 game in the second game.

They scored three more in the sixth of the first game today to defeat Concordia 8-7 in a back-and-forth game and added a seventh inning insurance run in the second game today before the Golden Bears finally produced the big hit.

It was junior catcher Chris Herbert (White Bear Lake, Minn.) that delivered the game-winning single with bases loaded and one out in the seventh. His base hit was a line drive over the head of Upper Iowa shortstop Erik Sorensen. 

Game One:
Senior center fielder Joe Abellera (Minnetonka, Minn.) hit a leadoff home run, his third of the year to give Concordia the early lead.

Upper Iowa answered by scoring two in the third but the Golden Bears rallied for two of their own in the bottom of the inning, scoring on a sacrifice fly by junior third baseman Zane Froehlich (Sioux Falls, S.D.) and an rbi single by junior left fielder Jake Schmidt (Oakdale, Minn.).

Junior right fielder Brenden Furrow (Johnston, Iowa), who had hits in each game to extend his hitting streak to 16, delivered a fourth inning rbi single to give Concordia a 4-2 lead.

Furrow's hitting streak includes his hitting safely in the final two games of 2007.

The lead didn't stick, as Upper Iowa added three more in the fifth to jump back in front 5-4.

Concordia answered again with three in the bottom of the inning with freshman pinch hitter Jon Stockton (Oakdale, Minn.) coming up with a bases loaded two run single up the middle after senior first baseman John Maciej (Elk River, Minn.) had already scored on a balk.

But the peacocks put up three more in the sixth and Concordia's seventh inning rally stranded pinch runner Ryan Bailey (Plymouth, Minn.) 90 feet from home. Bailey pinch ran for Maciej, who led off the inning with a double.

Senior Eic Utoft took the loss for CU, allowing three runs on five hits in two-thirds of an inning.

Senior Derek Mason finished the game with 1.1 innings of relief before starting the next game. Junior Chris Kimpton was the starter, working four innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits with a walk and three strikeouts.

Brian Putnam earned the win for Upper Iowa with three innings of scoreless relief, allowing two hits with a strikeout.

Putnam improved to 3-0 while Utoft fell to 1-1.

Game Two:
The Peacocks scored in the second after Lucas Wilsing led off the inning with a double that senior right fielder Brenden Furrow lost in the Metrodome roof.

The teams played scoreless baseball until the seventh with senior Derek Mason pitching well but the CU bats were unable to manage a run.

Mason struck out six batters, all looking, in seven innings. He allowed two runs on seven hits while walking just one.

In the seventh, Concordia, who had struggled to find a way to get hits off starter Greg Sieck, found the answer: take pitches.

Sieck walked leadoff batter Zane Froehlich. After a strikeout, Sieck hit Mason in the back, putting runners on first and second.

With pinch hitter Ted Farni coming up next, Upper Iowa made a move to the bullpen, ending Sieck's night after 6.1 scoreless innings but with two runners on. He finished allowing three hits but with five walks and a hit batter.

The relief pitcher to come in was Brian Putnam, who had dominated Concordia in the last two games with six shutout innings, allowing just three hits and a walk to the mighty CU offense. He earned the wins in the second and third games of the series.

This time around, the Concordia batters had Putnam figured out as he didn't record an out. He hit Farni in the back, loading the bases for senior shortstop Joe Abellera.

Abellera sent a fly ball to right field, and Marcus Thompson's diving attempt came up short, putting Abellera on second base with a two-run, game tying double.

With runners on second and third and one out, Putnam was instructed to intentionally walk senior second baseman Jake Waldman - his third walk of the game.

Junior catcher Chris Herbert stepped up to the plate, and delivered the game winner for Concordia.

Putnam took the loss, giving up two hits, a walk and a run facing four batters. He threw 15 pitches and fell to 3-1 on the season.

Mason, meanwhile, earned the win and improved his record to 2-0. In just three appearances, mason threw his second complete game. His other appearance was the relief appearance in game one, going 1.1 scoreless innings to shut down the Peacocks.

Concordia, now 8-6 overall, 2-2 in the NSIC, will return to action April 26 when they host UMD in their 2008 opener at Bob Barnes Field at 2 p.m.