TUCSON, Ariz. - Concordia-St. Paul (1-1) took its first loss of 2015 on Thursday evening to Southwest Minnesota State (3-6) 5-3 at Kino Sports Complex.
The Golden Bears took the game's first lead 1-0 in the top of the third inning as
David Henke scored from third base on a failed pickoff attempt of
Kyle Dalton at first base. Henke went 2-3 in the game, adding a walk.
Sophomore
Kevin Woebke was solid early in the game, striking out the side in the first and adding two more strikeouts in the second inning.
But SMSU answered in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases with no outs before hitting three grounders to
Ryan Poppitz at third base and only getting one run across and stranding the bases loaded.
SMSU took the lead in the third and added three more runs in the sixth for a 5-1 lead entering the late innings.
Woebke worked 4.0 innings in his first start of 2015, allowing two runs on five hits with six strikeouts and three walks while taking the loss.
In the game's late innings, sophomore right handed reliever
Hunter Lindstrom threw two quality innings, allowing two hits with two strikeouts on just 20 pitches to keep the Mustangs at five runs.
Concordia rallied in the seventh with three straight hits to start the inning from the 6-7-8 hitters as
Andrew Shotwell led off with a single up the middle and scored on a
Trevon Bargfrede double to left. Henke followed with a double down the right field line and Bargfrede scored on
Alex LaPorte's sacrifice fly to right field.
Shotwell was 2-4 to join Henke with 2-hit performances.
But the top of the order couldn't keep the rally going, stranding runners on first and third.
In the last two innings, Concordia couldn't get a rally going stranding a two out single by Shotwell as the only hit the rest of the way.
Jimmy Callahan picked up the win for the Mustangs, pitching 6.2 innings allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits with eight strikeouts. Cody Curtis earned the save with 2.1 scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts.
The Golden Bears and Mustangs will rematch tomorrow at 9:30 p.m. central time.
