PHOTO GALLERY (by Kris Fasnacht)

TUCSON, Ariz. - Concordia-St. Paul baseball is off to a 2-0 start to the 2014 following Monday evening's 12-9 victory over Missouri Valley College (0-9) at Kino Sports Complex.

The day got off to a rocky start as the game featured a 40-minute delay due to the umpire arrival time, and featured a second delay in the eighth inning as the teams had to change fields when the lights went out on field 4.

Concordia freshman right hander Hunter Lindstrom worked 4.0 shutout innings, allowing two hits with four strikeouts and no walks in relief. He pitched the final four frames to earn the win in his career debut on the hill.

Despite the lengthy first pitch delay, Concordia jumped out to an 8-2 lead after two innings despite four errors combined in the first frame alone.

Sophomore right hander Ryan Poppitz got the start in the unusual conditions and was able to get out of the first inning allowing two runs (one earned) while getting a fly out double play to get out of a jam with runners on second and third and one out.

In the bottom of the first, Concordia scored three runs while piecing together three hits and a walk, reaching twice on error. Poppitz and junior Trevon Bargfrede each singled in a run.

Poppitz worked around a two out double in the second as he struck out a pair allowing the Concordia offense to keep up the pressure with a five run bottom of the inning.

In the bottom of the inning, Poppitz drove in his second run of the day as he reached on a fielder's choice error, with seniors Drew Turk and Elliot Powell driving in three runs to follow. Turk had an RBI single while Powell had a two run double. Turk went 2-5 in the game.

But Missouri Valley got to Poppitz in the third, hitting a grand slam with one out, although Poppitz retired the next two batters to finish his line.

Missouri Valley scattered a run in each of the next two innings as Jake Kounkel made his debut on the mound. The freshman right hander struck out two and allowed two runs on two hits in 2.0 innings in his debut performance, showing ability to escape the tough inning.

When Kounkel left, Missouri Valley led 9-8 after five innings.

The Concordia bats quieted during the middle innings as MVC starter Guillermo Amezquita settled down with scoreless third, fourth and fifth innings.

In the sixth, Concordia's bats came back alive with two runs to take the 10-9 lead to force Amezquita from the game.

In the seventh the Golden Bears put together a walk and three singles with RBI's by sophomores Alex LaPorte and Eric Fasnacht. LaPorte went 3-4 including a double, a run and an RBI while Fasnacht stayed hot by going 2-3 with a walk, two runs and an RBI and is 5-7 after two games.

Armed with the 12-9 lead, Lindstrom retired Missouri Valley in order in the last two innings and put down the last eight batters he faced including working out of a second and third, one out situation in the seventh inning.

Joining Fasnacht with a 2-3 performance was junior Kyle Dalton as he scored three runs and drew two walks and is also 5-7 through two games. Dalton has also walked three times to reach base safely in eight out of 10 plate appearances while Fasnacht leads the team with an .857 slugging percentage.

Missouri Valley's offense was led by designated hitter Zac Blakemore who went 2-5 with a grand slam and a double while Zach McGill went 2-3 with two doubles.

Concordia continues play at the Tucson Invitational with a doubleheader tomorrow against Malone University (Ohio) with the first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m. (central) on field 4.

NOTE: Concordia's two junior varsity games have been cancelled.