Defense Can't Overcome Offense In Season Opener

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (3/06/12)—Concordia failed to score a run in their season-opening doubleheader against UM-Duluth on Tuesday at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. The Cobbers lost the first game 5-0 and then dropped the nightcap 4-0.
 
The good news for the Cobbers came from the play of their defense and the pitching staff. Concordia did not commit an error in the two games and the CC hurlers only allowed three extra base hits in the 14 innings and 15 hits total in the first two games against live competition all year.

The Cobber offense was never able to put together multiple-hit game and struggled with two outs in the inning. Concordia had only five hits in the 14 innings of play and did not have more than one hit in any single inning. The Cobbers were also 1-for-15 with two outs in an inning and 0-for-19 with runners in scoring position.

The teams battled through a pair of scoreless inning in the first game before UM-Duluth put up two runs in the bottom of the third. The Bulldogs had only one other inning where they scored and that came in the fifth when they posted three runs. The Cobbers had only two hits in the opener and both came off the bat of sophomore shortstop Braden Rahman. He got the first hit of the game for CC in the fourth inning when he knocked a single up the middle. He also had a double to left center in the sixth inning. Rahman also stole a base after he singled in the fourth.

Senior Zach Frappier started the game and pitched the first 3.0 innings. He allowed five hits and two earned runs and struck out two. Sophomore Shawn Krueger went the next two innings and gave up three runs on only three hits. Erik Simmons pitched a scoreless sixth inning and struck out two of the three batters he faced.

UM-Duluth (2-2) took control of the second game in the first two innings. The offense put up a single run in the first and then two more in the second frame while the pitching staff pitched out of scoring chances in both innings.

Michael Olson was stranded on second for the Cobbers in the first inning after getting a two-out double. Concordia then had runners on first and second with only one out before a hard hit line drive and a deep fly ball to right field ended the frame. Brian Guler singled up the middle with one out in the second and then advanced all the way to third before being stranded to end the inning.

The only other CC hit came from Jordan Gefroh who had a pinch-hit double in the seventh inning.   

Concordia used five different pitchers in the game. Junior Chris Gilson made his collegiate pitching debut and threw two innings of relief and did not allow a run and gave up only one hit. Jackson Meland made the start in the finale and lasted 2.0 innings. Senior Luke Kramer entered in the third inning and went 2.0 innings and did not allow a hit. Kirk Schroeder and Bryce Feia combined to pitch a scoreless seventh inning. Schroeder gave up two hits and got the first two outs before Feia forced a fly out for the final out in the top of the seventh.

Concordia will look to break their scoreless string when they play a pair games against Luther (Iowa) on Saturday, Mar. 10 in the Metrodome starting at 10 a.m.