TUCSON, Ariz. – The Concordia-St. Paul baseball team (2-5) opened play at the Tucson Invitational Games on Tuesday afternoon, falling 9-7 to Mount Marty (9-5) at Kino Sports Complex.

The Golden Bears fell behind early, with Mount Marty scoring three runs in the top of the first inning and adding four more in the third inning to take a commanding 7-0 lead.

It took seven innings for the Concordia bats to finally come alive, with the Golden Bears exploding for seven runs to tie the game at 7-7 heading into the eighth. It didn't take long for the Lancers to regain the advantage, scoring what proved to be the game winning runs with two in the eighth.

The Golden Bear rally in the seventh began with back-to-back walks from Charlie Harms and Kaden Johnson. Koby McBroome would get the Golden Bears on the board in the following at bat with an RBI double down the left field line, scoring Johnson with Landon Behringer, who pinch ran for Harms, getting called out for failing to touch third base on his way home. 

The scoring continued with senior Noah Juliar doubling down the left field line to bring McBroome home and make it 7-2. Sophomore Will Husemann kept things moving along in the very next at bat, knocking a single to right-center field to score both Juliar and Bennett McCollow, who reached base after being hit by a pitch.

The Lancers responded with a pitching change, but it didn't matter as Trett Joles and Kal Brohmer each singled to load the bases for CSP. Freshman Eric Berg followed with the biggest at bat of his collegiate career, hitting his third double of the season to plate two more Concordia runs for the first RBI of his career.

Redshirt freshman Jack Setterlund came through in a big spot in the following at bat, slapping a single to center field to score Brohmer and tie the game at 7-7. That proved to be the end of Concordia's rally as Mount Marty pitcher Zach Leusche finally retired two more batter to get out of the inning with the game still tied.

Senior Reece Piontek started the game on the mound for CSP, allowing seven hits and seven runs with one strikeout in 2.2 innings pitched. Despite being charged with the loss, senior Jack Greenlun pitched well in relief, allowing three hits and two runs while fanning four batters in 4.2 innings of work. Sophomore Ian Segna closed the game on the mound for CSP, recording the final three outs in top of the ninth to hold the deficit at two.

The Golden Bears managed to outhit the Lancers 15-12 in the game, with Berg leading the way going 3-for-5 with two RBI. McCollow and Brohmer each finished 2-for-4 while Husemann was 2-for-5 with two RBI. Setterlund finished 1-for-1 with an RBI.

Leuschen earned the win for the Lancers, allowing four hits and two runs in two thirds of an inning in the seventh. Liam Bates picked up the save, giving up two hits with one strikeout while holding CSP scoreless in the final two innings.

The Golden Bears will be back in action early on Wednesday, taking on Park-Gilbert (Ariz.) at 12 p.m. (CT).