TUCSON, Ariz. - Freshman
Will Husemann's first career home run helped propel Concordia-St. Paul baseball (11-2) past Malone (Ohio) (3-10), 12-6, on Thursday at the Kino Sports Complex.
BOX SCORE
With today's win, CSP improved to 9-3 all-time against Malone and is only one win away from tying the longest winning streak in the series of four in a row. The Golden Bears have now scored 101 runs (8.42 AVG/G) against the Pioneers with the 12 this afternoon.
Concordia collected 12 runs on 14 hits to secure the sweep against the Pioneers. Husemann was perfect from the plate after going 2-2 with a 3-run home run and two runs scored while adding a walk.
Jaden Werner also shined at the plate with a 3-4 outing that included a double, an RBI and a run scored.
Starting pitcher
Logan Shaffer picked up a no-decision on the mound after going 4.0 innings with a pair of strikeouts.
Jack Nicklaus (1-0) collected his second career win on the bump with 2.2 innings pitched and a team-leading four strikeouts.
David Salz added a strikeout and
Matt Sherman closed the show from the bullpen.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Neither team could find an offensive rhythm in the early going until the third inning whenever the Golden Bears scored eight runs to solidify early momentum. Although Malone outscored Concordia 6-4 in the back half, it was not enough to derail an early advantage, as CSP went on to win 12-6.
In the third inning, following the Golden Bears finding themselves up 5-0 with RBIs from
Koby McBroome (1B),
Noah Juliar (1B),
Nick Thimsen (HBP),
Jaden Werner (HBP) and
Mason Nadolney (SF), Husemann blasted a 3-Run homer to deep right field to give CS an 8-0 lead.
Malone inched closer and closer throughout the game with five runs in the fifth and run in the sixth that was highlighted by a 3-run homer from Eric Baum to make the score 8-6.
However, CSP found more offensive magic in the latter innings after being held out of the run column in the fourth and fifth.
Bennett McCollow (2-4) made a vital contribution with an RBI single in the sixth and an RBI double in the eighth, while
Bryce Nelson and
Nick Thimsen added RBI singles of their own en route to the 12-6 win.
UP NEXT
The Golden Bears will conclude the Tucson Invitational tomorrow morning against Saginaw Valley (Mich.). The first pitch from Kino Sports Field #4 is scheduled to take place at 10:30 a.m. CT.
