PHOTO GALLERY (by Kris Fasnacht)

TUCSON, Ariz. - Concordia-St. Paul (1-0) opened the 2014 season with a 7-2 victory over CSU-San Bernardino (6-15) on Sunday morning at the Tucson Invitational on field 3 of Kino Sports Complex.

Senior right handed pitcher Adam Kramer picked up the win in the opening day start by working 7.0 innings, allowing just one earned run on six hits. He struck out three and walked one while throwing 64 of 96 pitches for strikes. The win improves him to 10-8 in his career in 25 starts (28 appearances).

Junior right handed reliever Adam Fredericks worked the final 2.0 innings, allowing a run on three hits on 27 pitches.

Concordia put the pressure on right away in the first inning as junior Kyle Dalton walked and stole a base and senior Brooks Beilke also drew a walk but the Golden Bears left two aboard.

It was the start of a big opening day for Dalton, who went 3-4 with a walk, a run and two steals out of the second spot.

After a quiet second inning and with Kramer dealing for Concordia, sophomore Eric Fasnacht led off the third with a single through the left side. Like Dalton, Fasnacht went 3-4 out of the ninth spot in the order and scored three times while slugging a double down the left field line in the fourth inning as well.

Fasnacht would score the first of three runs in the third as the Golden Bears took a strong lead early. Sophomore Ryan Poppitz and Beilke delivered the RBI singles in the frame. Poppitz went 2-5 with three RBI including a ninth inning two run single while Beilke debuted as a Golden Bear with a 1-4 game, driving in a run along with a walk.

In the fourth, Fasnacht scored after his one out double on an RBI single up the middle by leadoff batter, junior Tyler Krekling. Krekling went 2-4 with two runs, a walk and an RBI in his Concordia debut.

Concordia carried the 4-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh when CSUSB finally got to Kramer with back-to-back one out hits starting with a double down the right field line. But he worked out of the inning without further damage to end his contest with a quality start and the lead.

The Golden Bears added three more in the eighth for insurance, allowing Fredericks to finish the game on the mound.

For the Coyotes, it completes their turn at the 2014 Tucson Invitational with a 2-2 record, all against Northern Sun competition. CSUSB had previously defeated Southwest Minnesota State and Northern State before falling to St. Cloud State and Concordia. The Coyotes have already played 21 games, including four against #21 California Baptist.

The Coyotes were led by seventh batter Aaron Beckley and ninth batter Warren Fishback as they each went 2-4. Beckley scored twice and doubled while Fishback had two doubles and an RBI.

The loss went to CSUSB starter Tyler Wells, working 5.0 innings while allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Kenneth Kissell went the rest of the way, 4.0 innings, allowing three runs on four hits with two strikeouts and three walks.

Concordia totalled 12 hits and five walks against the Coyotes, leaving 10 on base while CSUSB tallied nine hits and one walk against Concordia, leaving eight on base.

Concordia continues action at the Tucson Invitational tomorrow against Missouri Valley with a 6 p.m. (central time) contest on field 4.