CAROL STREAM, Ill. (3/25/16)--- The first game was a pitcher's duel and the second game was decided by big-run innings. Unfortunately for Concordia they came out on the wrong end of both decisions and lost a pair at Wheaton College.
The Cobbers fell 3-2 in the opener to Carroll (Wis.) and then gave up 11 runs in two innings and lost 12-7 to the host Thunder. The two defeats drops Concordia's overall record to 7-6 on the year.
Concordia got out to a 2-0 lead in Game 1 when they scored single runs in the first and third innings against Carroll. CC was helped by two Pioneer errors in the first frame and then a Jordan Domine ground out scored Chad Johnson who led off the third with a single up the middle.
The Cobbers' offense would stall after the third inning. CC didn't have another hit until the eighth frame and then a single hit in the eighth and two more in the ninth.
Carroll scored once in the fifth inning and then won the game with two runs in the sixth. The decisive play in the game came with two outs and runners on first and third. The runner at first broke second on a steal attempt and then the runner on third broke for home. Concordia pitcher Billy Jacobson steeped off the pitching rubber and checked the runner at first and then threw home. His throw wasn't in time to get the final out at the plate and then the very next batter singled to center field to plate the runner who stole second.
Concordia had a chance to tie the game in the ninth inning. Domine and Tanner Kluis singles to put runners on first and third with one out but then a strike out and a ground out to third base ended the game.
Johnson led the seven-hit attack for CC in the opener. He was 3-for-4 and scored both of the Cobbers' runs.
Jacobson started the game and went the first 5.2 innings. He allowed six hits and three earned runs. Cole Christensen came on to finish the sixth and went 1.1 innings without allowing a run and striking out two. Zack Wilson pitched the final 2.0 innings and allowed only one hit.
The second game revolved around three big innings. Wheaton scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-0 lead. Concordia then retaliated with a five-spot in the sixth to grab a 6-5 lead. The Thunder won the game by scoring seven runs on five hits in the seventh inning.
The Cobbers' five-run sixth inning came courtesy of two doubles and three singles. Phil Kuball doubled to left field to start the inning. He scored on the very next at-bat when Johnson singled up the middle. The other double came off the bat of Kluis who doubled home Domine.
Johnson, Cody Rahman and Storm were all 2-for-4 in the second game. Storm drove in two runs while Rahman scored a pair of runs.
Concordia used five pitchers in the second game. Freshman Fletcher Andel started the game and lasted 4.0 innings. He was followed by Kyle Connelly, Sam Mattson, Joe Hallock and Ryan Heisler on the hill.
POWER OUTAGE
In the first game the Cobbers and Carroll combined for 17 hits and all the base knocks were singles. The ball also spent more time on the ground than in the air. Of the 40 outs from balls put in play, 26 were ground ball outs.
MARCH CHADNESS
Cobber sophomore outfielder Chad Johnson had a pair of multiple-hit games on Friday. He finished the day 5-for-8 with three runs scored and an RBI. Johnson has now put up multiple-hit games in all three Concordia games in the month of March. He is hitting .615 (8-for-13) in March. Johnson has now hit safely in five straight games and is hitting a team-best .380 on the year.
TWO-OUT TROUBLES
Concordia struggled at the plate with two outs in an inning against the Pioneers and Crusaders. The Cobbers hit just .130 with two outs in an inning. CC was 1-for-12 against Carroll and 2-for-11 vs. Wheaton. The Pioneers and Thunder hit .423 with two outs.
WHAT'S NEXT
Concordia will finish off their three-game stint at Wheaton when they face Edgewood (Wis.) on Saturday at 11 a.m. The Cobbers will then return to Moorhead to host Jamestown on Monday, Mar. 28 at 2 p.m. Edgewood lost to Carroll 7-3 on Friday and is 4-7 on the season.
