MINNEAPOLIS - Concordia University (8-4) entered today with the top batting average in the country at .359 but today leaned on their pitching staff in a pair of close wins, 1-0 in 9-innings and 3-1 in 7-innings against Northern State at Metrodome. The games were scheduled for 7-innings each. Concordia's staff allowed just one earned run in 16 innings, striking out 19 on the day. Junior Andy Fagely (right, Mahtomedi, Minn.) threw four no-hit innings in relief to get the win in game one, sophomore Adam Kramer (Wausau, Wis.) struck out eight in six innings for the win in game two. BOX SCORES: GAME 1 | GAME 2

GAME 1: CU 1, Northern State 0 (9-innings)
Concordia got out to a rough start in the first game as senior right hander Ben Lemke (Rosemount, Minn.) struggled with his command early. He walked the first three hitters he faced and 14 of his first 16 pitches were called balls, with the two strikes coming on 3-0 counts.

But with a 2-0 count, the bases loaded and no one out, he forced a pop out to right field, holding the runner on third. On the next pitch, he induced a grounder up the middle with senior shortstop Troy DuBay (right, Urbandale, Iowa) ranging and nabbing the base and throwing in one motion for the double play to help Lemke get out of the jam.

DuBay's slick play helped Lemke pitch a scoreless first inning by getting all three outs on back-to-back pitches. DuBay's first inning glove work set the tone for the game for his defensive performance, and his teammates followed suit.

In the second inning, Lemke allowed a leadoff triple, but worked back-to-back swinging strikeouts, followed by a walk to put two runners on with two outs. But he'd get NSU leadoff man Cameron Lehner looking to strike out the side as the Wolves left five on base in the first two innings.

Lemke went into cruise control after that, striking out six batters from the second through fourth innings. He worked 5.0 scoreless on the day, striking out six with five walks and scattering three hits.

The offense couldn't get going, though. After back-to-back one-out singles in the first inning, Northern State starter Nathan Nietfeld retired 10-straight Golden Bears.

DuBay broke up that streak with a single and a stolen base with two outs in the sixth inning, but was left in scoring position. Nietfeld settled back in and retired the next 12 Concordia hitters for a string of 22 of 23 batters retired.

He worked eight scoreless frames, allowing four singles and only two runners to reach second base. but in the ninth inning, the top of Concordia's lineup finally got to him.

A one-out single by junior Paul Giel (right, Minnetonka, Minn.) brought senior Bryan Lippincott (Des Moines, Iowa) to the plate. Lippincott slashed a double down the left field line, just inside the chalk line to put runners on second and third. An intentional walk to senior Logan Bouts (Hopkins, Minn.) loaded the bases for DuBay.

DuBay, who saved the game early with the 6-6-3 double play, knocked in the go-ahead run with a fielder's choice RBI groundout deep in the hole at shortstop, with Jack Thompson barely getting Bouts at second.

While the offense rallied to take the lead, it was junior right hander Andy Fagely (Mahtomedi, Minn.) who stabilized the game for the Golden Bears by pitching nearly perfect 4.0 innings of relief. He did not allow a hit or issue a walk, with his only blemish being a hit by pitch to the leadoff hitter in teh seventh inning. Fagely struck out four and picked up the win, improving to 2-1 on the year while lowering his season earned run average to 1.33.

Giel and Lippincott each went 2-4, with Giel scoring the game's only run. Freshman Kyle Dalton (Minnetonka, Minn.) would go 1-for-3 in the game, extending his hitting streak to 9-games before it was snapped in game two.

Nietfeld went the distance for Northern State, working 9.0 innings with one earned run, six hits, a walk and four strikeouts. The only walk of the game was intentional and is his only walk in 19.1 innings on the season.

GAME 2: CU 3, Northern State 1
Concordia didn't waste any time getting on the scoreboard in game two, as Lippincott singled up the middle, scoring junior Greg Larpenter from second base for an early 1-0 lead. Lippincott extended his hitting streak to 11 games, going 1-2 with a walk and is hitting .591 through 12 games on the season.

With a 1-0 lead, sophomore right hander Adam Kramer (right, Wausau, Wis.) settled into a groove. He struck out eight batters over 6.0 innings and didn't issue any walks. He allowed five hits, including three straight two-out singles in the third inning as the Wolves tied the game.

The game remained tied through the fifth, as Concordia stranded a leadoff double by junior Doug Stearns (below, Minnetonka, Minn.) in the fifth inning, leaving the catcher on third base. But in the bottom of the sixth, a two out walk to Lippincott kept Concordia alive.



Lippincott stole second and was driven home on an RBI single by Bouts for the 2-1 lead.

A tactical move by Mark "Lunch" McKenzie brought pinch runner Drew Turk (below, Plainfield, Ill.) off the bench for Bouts. Turk stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error on the play. He scored an insurance run on a wild pitch.



McKenzie then turned to senior right hander Chris Peterson (right, St. Anthony, Minn.) to shut the door in the seventh. Peterson mowed through the Wolves in nine pitches, striking out one and getting a 6-3 grounder to end the game after a two-out double for his first save of the year.

Kramer earned the win, bringing his record to 1-1.

Concordia had just four hits in the second game and only left two runners on base. Northern State, meanwhlie, left six runners on including four in scoring position.

Game two starter Robbie Rocamora pitched well for Northern State, working 5.0 three-hit innings. He allowed just the first inning run and only one hit after the first. He struck out five batters and only needed 55 pitches. Trent Bestland took the loss in relief, allowing both runs but just one was earned in a 22-pitch inning.

Concordia continues their season next Saturday and Sunday with their home opening weekend which also opens conference play against Bemidji State in a 4-game series.