TUCSON, Ariz. - Senior
Bryan Lippincott (Des Moines, Iowa) lifted his team by going 3-4 while hitting the game-tying home run in the seventh inning and stealing the eventual game-winning run in the top of the 11th inning in Concordia's 5-4 extra-inning win over Southwest Minnesota State (6-4) on Friday morning. BOX SCORE
Lippincott has now hit safely in the last eight games with six multi-hit performances. He's off to a .600 start at the plate with nine extra bases, slugging his fifth double and his second home run today. With two runs and one RBI, he's scored 11 and driven in 16. He has a .659 on base percentage and a 1.029 slugging percentage.
The Golden Bears take three of four from SMSU in Arizona and are 5-2 on their spring trip and above .500 for the first time this season at 5-4 overall.
Concordia took the lead in the top of the 11th inning that started with a bunt single by freshman
Kyle Dalton (Minnetonka, Minn.) who extended his hitting streak to seven games with the bunt single. He was advanced on a sacrifice by junior
Greg Larpenter (Urbandale, Iowa).
Lippincott was walked intentionally with two outs, allowing senior
Logan Bouts (Hopkins, Minn.) to come through with a go-ahead RBI single, scoring Dalton and advancing Lippincott to third. With pinch runner
Sean Graff (Harris, Minn.) at first for Bouts, Concordia executed a double-steal with SMSU attempting to throw out Graff at second while Lippincott successfully stole home for what would be the difference making run.
Senior right hander
Ben Lemke (Rosemount, Minn.) appeared in relief, entering with a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the seventh inning. He worked four scoreless to help preserve the tie and held on in the 11th inning as SMSU stranded the tying run at third with the winning run at the plate.
Lemke picked up his first win of the year, evening his record at 1-1 by pitching 5.0 innings, allowing one earned run on three hits and two walks while striking out four.
He relieved junior right hander
Andy Fagely (Mahtomedi, Minn.) who pitched a strong 6.0 innings in his first start of the season. He allowed three runs (two earned) with two strikeouts. He was tagged for eight hits but didn't issue any walks and has only issued two free passes in 16.1 innings this season.
Bouts went 2-for-6 and has matched Lippincott's eight game hitting streak and is hitting .447 on the young season. He was followed in the lineup by senior
Troy DuBay (Urbandale, Iowa) with a 2-for-5 game, scoring a run and drawing a walk while senior
Kris Long (Rochester, Minn.) also had a pair of hits.
The Mustangs were led by Brian Ness with a 3-for-4 performance and Jon Ellis at 3-for-5 with a double.
Bryce Rippentrop took the loss, falling to 1-2 after working 5.1 innings out of the bullpen. He allowed three earned runs and struck out seven. Aaron Johnson started and did not factor into the decision despite leaving with the lead. He allowed two earned runs in 5.1 innings.
Both teams will play St. Ambrose (Iowa) tomorrow, starting with SMSU at 11:00 a.m. (CT) followed with a 3:00 p.m. (CT) first pitch against Concordia.
