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ST. PAUL, Minn. - Concordia-St. Paul (23-11, 15-9 NSIC) scratched out a pair of late inning, one-run victories on Friday afternoon at Barnes Field. The Golden Bears swept Upper Iowa (10-22, 3-15 NSIC) with a 2-1 win in extra innings (8) before a 3-2 win in game two.

At the time of this story, Concordia is clinging to fourth place in the NSIC Standings but only one game separates fourth from eighth as Winona State (14-10) sits in eighth just a game behind Concordia.

Concordia and Upper Iowa will conclude the four game series tomorrow for senior day at noon at Barnes Field.

GAME 1: Concordia 2, Upper Iowa 1
After six scoreless innings, Upper Iowa finally rallied to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the seventh in a scheduled seven inning first game of the doubleheader. But sophomore Tyler Brekke pitched out of trouble, forcing the Peacocks to leave runners on second and third with one out to prevent a larger UIU lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Concordia rallied by reaching on a pair of UIU errors to put two on with one out. An RBI single to right field by pinch hitter Tyler Krekling scored Eric Fasnacht from second base. The UIU throw was off the line, allowing Krekling and pinch runner Hunter Lindstrom to move up to second and third. The Peacocks walked senior Elliot Powell intentionally but Concordia left the bases loaded with one out despite junior Kyle Dalton's laser to right field being caught by a diving Alex George.

In the eighth, UIU leadoff hitter Tyler Adams led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt but freshman left handed reliever Josh Lenz worked left him stranded in scoring position.

In the bottom of the eighth, sophomore Ryan Poppitz slugged a double to the right center warning track. With two outs, Fasnacht walked and the pair moved up on a wild pitch. UIU once again went to the intentional walk, putting freshman Jake Kounkel aboard to bring Krekling back up. Krekling was hit by pitch to force in the game winning run.

In two plate appearances, Krekling was 1-1 with two RBI, driving in the tying and winning run in the seventh and eighth innings.

Dalton went 2-4 with singles in first two at bats.

Brekke was outstanding in his start, working 7.0 innings allowing one run on just three hits. He struck out three and walked four with the four walks coming in his final two innings. He only need 91 pitches in the efficient start as his ERA drops to 2.57.

Lenz picked up the win in relief with a shutout inning to improve to 2-0 with a 3.31 ERA.

Brett Fanning also had a no decision in a solid start for UIU, pitching into the seventh inning. He allowed an unearned run over 6.1 innings, allowing five hits and two walks on 93 pitches and holds a 2.83 season ERA.

Anthony Ruden took the loss in relief, pitching 1.1 innings allowing one run, falling to 2-3.

Adams went 2-3 with a walk to pace the Peacock lineup.

GAME 2: Concordia 3, Upper Iowa 2
In game two, the teams wasted less time crossing home plate as both teams scored in the second inning. Upper Iowa put together a pair of one out hits and scored with two outs on Eric Cottrell's RBI single through the left side.

Concordia also scored with two outs from the lower part of the lineup as ninth batter Alex LaPorte delivered an RBI single to right to tie the game.

Upper Iowa jumped back in front in the third as Mitch Moser hit a one out single, moved to second on a ground out to second base and scored from second on John Dobson's two out single through the left side. On the play, Drew Turk fielded the ball cleanly in left and threw a strike home that brushed Moser's shoulder and deflected just enough to get past Concordia catcher Brooks Beilke who was in position to make the tag.

The play was key as UIU held its 2-1 lead into the later innings. Concordia let runners on first and third in the third inning and a runner on second in the fourth inning.

Meanwhile, Concordia starter Zach Rengel settled into a groove as he retired 10 straight batters through the sixth.

In the bottom of the fifth, Turk led off with a sharp single to left and advanced on a wild pitch. He scored from second when Beilke singled down the left field line to tie the game at 2-2.

In the sixth, the bottom of Concordia's lineup sparked another rally. A one out bunt single down the third base line put redshirt freshman Joe Muench aboard. With two outs, LaPorte reached on an infield single to third to turn it over to Dalton and the top of the lineup.

Dalton delivered, hitting an RBI single up the middle to give Concordia the 3-2 lead as Muench scored his second run of the game.

In the seventh, the Peacocks threatened with a leadoff single back up the middle. After a pair of strikeouts, pinch hitter Samuel Kortes kept the game alive with another single up the middle to put runners on first and second with two outs for the top of UIU's lineup and standout hitter Adams.

After an 11 pitch at bat, Rengel induced Adams into a comebacker as Rengel raced towards first and flipped to Powell to end the game.

Rengel forced Adams to go 0-4 in the game, lowering his average to .439 after Adams had increased it to .454 after game one.

Dalton went 2-4 again in the second game, raising his average to .448 as he went 4-8 in the doubleheader and added his sixth stolen base in game two.

Beilke, Powell and LaPorte all went 2-3 as well.

Rengel picked up the complete game win to improve to 5-2 while his ERA rose slightly to 1.91. He scattered seven UIU hits, struck out three and didn't walk anyone.

Martin Valdez took the hard luck loss for UIU in a complete game. He allowed three runs on 11 hits in 6.0 innings and falls to 1-5 on the year.