Junior right handed pitcher Jake Schmidt (right, Oakdale, Minn.) pitched a two hit shutout with a career-high 12 strikeouts to lead the Golden Bears to a 3-0 win in the first game before an 11-2 loss in game two. The result was a split between Concordia University (6-4) and Minnesota State (1-6) on Tuesday evening at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn.

Game One:
Schmidt needed 93 pitches in the gem, 65 for strikes while exhibiting solid control without issuing any walks and retiring the last 13 batters. He didn't face more than four batters in any inning and the only players to reach base for MSU reached on a first inning single, a second inning leadoff triple and a hit by pitch in the third.

Offensively, Concordia received all the runs they needed in the first inning when senior center fielder Joe Abellera (left, Minnetonka, Minn.) smoked a leadoff double to the left centerfield gap. After a pair of strikeouts, he came around to score on a single to centerfield by junior right fielder Brenden Furrow (Johnston, Iowa).

Abellera finished the game 3-3, extending his hitting streak to nine games. He drove in a run in the second and scored again when he drilled another double to left centerfield and was knocked in by senior second basemen Jake Waldman (Minnetonka, Minn.) who delivered a sacrifice fly to center.

Schmidt improves to 2-0 on the season with the win and records his third career shutout.

Game Two:
In game two the Mavericks pounced on the Golden Bears for four runs in the first inning after MSU starter Chris Odegaard struck out the side in the top half of the inning.

They tallied three more runs in the third inning before Concordia finally scored in the fourth when Brenden Furrow (right) hit a line shot over wall in left center. Furrow's home run extended his hitting streak to a team-high 10 games.

Concordia scored again when junior catcher Chris Herbert (White Bear Lake, Minn.) hit a towering blast halfway up the left center bleachers at the Metrodome.

Sophomore right hander Blake Devries (Eden Prairie, Minn.) took the loss, falling to 0-2. He worked four innings with four strikeouts while allowing eight runs on nine hits. Senior left hander Eric Utoft (Minnetonka, Minn.) worked two innings of relief allowing three runs on four hits while striking out four.

Joe Abellera's hit streak came to a close after starting the year with hits in each of his first nine games. He finished 0-3 with three strikeouts but is still hitting .500 for the year.

Concordia heads back south this weekend when they travel to Maryville, Mo. To face northwest Missouri state for a four game series with doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday March 8-9 at noon.