st. Paul, minn. - concordia university (9-19, 1-6 nsic) and wayne state (12-13, 8-3 nsic) did everything they could to play ball on a stormy friday afternoon at barnes field. But after a lightning delay, the teams resumed play only to have the first game called after 7-innings due to rain and poor field conditions, effectively cancelling the second game as well. Wayne state won the game 8-5 and takes two of three to win the season series. box score
yesterday after their doubleheader in june-like 80-degree weather, the two coaching staffs agreed to start today's doubleheader at 11:00 a.m., as forecasts called for isolated storms to hit the twin cities in the 1:00 p.m. To 3:00 p.m. Window.
the storms arrived early, however, forcing a lightning delay with concordia batting in the bottom of the 5th inning (12:16 p.m.) and no outs after a leadoff double by sophomore bryan lippincott (des moines, iowa).
the lightning forced an automatic 30-minute minimum delay from the time of the last lightning strike. When the last bolt finally hit shortly after 1:00 p.m., the coaches agreed to resume play at 1:40 p.m.
the timing was just a half inning late for the golden bears, who allowed a five-run 5th inning to wayne state just before the delay struck. The five run rally put the wildcats ahead 8-2 at the time and halted concordia's momentum after lippincott's leadoff double.
wayne state hit three home runs before the delay, two two-run shots and a solo. Concordia, meanwhile, countered with a pair of long balls of their own, when lippincott led off the bottom of the 3rd with an opposite field blast before sophomore j.t. Schneider (oak creek, wis.) followed with his first career homer, peppering the gangelhoff center wall 3/4 of the way up.
but with concordia hitting a pair of solo's while wayne had a pair of two-run shots, they had the clear upper hand on the scoreboard.
after the delay which lasted nearly an hour and a half, the teams got back on the field. Concordia lifted starting pitcher andy fagely (rhp, r-fr., mahtomedi, minn.) after he allowed eight runs (seven earned) in five innings of work. Wayne state went back to their starter despite the delay.
the result of the pitching moves was one that appeared to have paid off for concordia. Junior rhp ryan rodeck (lino lakes, minn.) displayed excellent command, blanking a red-hot wayne state offense for two innings.
meanwhile, it appeared concordia had broken through wayne's pitching, getting a run off starter john snyder in the sixth but leaving two on in the inning.
trailing 8-3, wayne lifted snyder in the bottom of the seventh for michael frericks. The golden bears went to work offensively, scoring a pair of runs when freshman hogan jackson (oakdale, minn.) laced a two run single down the left field line.
the golden bears already cut the six-run deficit in half with two more innings to play and cu eating wsc's bullpen up in the series. With rodeck heading back out for the 8th inning with his command in check. But the mound did not cooperate with his delivery and after one batter in the 8th, the coaches and umps quickly agreed to call the game.
for concordia, jackson continues to swing a hot bat, now with five multi-hit games in his last six as he went 3-4 with a pair of rbi to raise his average to .341.
lippincott raised his average to .377 with a 2-4 performance including a pair of extra base hits, his 12th double and his fifth home run. Lippincott is now riding a five game hitting streak after going 8-14 at the plate with three home runs, a double and a triple in the series against the wildcats.
schneider also continued his strong play at the plate, in addition to his first career homer, schneider was 2-4 with two runs scored and lifting his average to .343. He has now hit safely in seven straight games as well. He is 12-28 during the streak.
