Box Score TOPEKA, Kan. - Concordia-St. Paul baseball drops the first game of the 2023 season, 6-8, on the road to the Washburn Ichabods on Saturday afternoon at Falley Field.
 
Junior Jaden Werner led the Golden Bears (0-1, 0-0 NSIC) with an impressive 3-for-4 and two RBI hitting performance against the Ichabods (3-7, 0-0 MIAA). The Golden Bears started strong with an early 2-0 lead before giving up eight runs and finding themselves down six in the later innings. A late rally from the Golden Bears fell short as they cut the lead down to just two with four runs and three hits in the ninth.   
 
How It Happened

The Golden Bears would strike first with a pair of runs in the second inning. Kal Brohmer scored the first run of the season after the wild pitch allowed him to score from third. Jaden Werner would add another run after stealing home to give the Golden Bears an early 2-0 advantage.
 
Washburn would respond with a run of their own in the bottom of the second inning after Cale Savage homered to left center. They would later tie the game with a sacrifice fly in the third inning.
 
In the fourth inning, Bryce Nelson collected the Golden Bears first hit and stole base of the season after reaching with a single to right field. However, the junior would be left stranded in scoring position, as the inning ended abruptly.
 
Washburn took the lead with a single shot to left field by Shane Morrow, which sparked a four run fifth inning. They would add two more runs in the seventh inning with an RBI double from Cal Watkins.
 
Werner would add his second hit of the game with a single to right center, and pinch hitter Michael Sturek would reach after he was walked on four straight balls with two outs in the eighth inning. However, the Golden Bears could not capitalize, as an infield pop-up ended the inning with runners stranded on first and second.
 
In the ninth and final inning, after Kal Brohmer was walked with the bases loaded and one out, Noah Juliar crossed the plate for the CSP's third run of the game. In the next at-bat, Werner would add to his big afternoon with a two run RBI double to left field. Brohmer added the game's final run with his second run scored off a wild pitch. Washburn would hang on and secured the 8-6 victory.
 
Players of Note

 Werner finished 3-for-4 from the plate with two RBIs, a run scored, a stolen base and a walk.
 
Brohmer scored a pair of runs from wild pitches, was walked twice and recorded an RBI at the plate.
 
Christian Morel received the nod in the season opener for his fourth career start. The junior would go 4.1 innings and sat down three batters with strikes in the loss.

Nelson was able to steal two bases successfully and added a hit for the Golden Bears
 
Reece Piontek entered the game in relief and pitched 3.2 innings for the Golden Bears. The sophomore would tally a pair of strikeouts and allowed only two runs.
 
Up Next: CSP will return to action tomorrow in Topeka with a double-header against the Ichabods. First pitch for the nine inning opening game will begin at noon, followed by a seven inning game directly after.