Hallock Spurs Go Go Cobbers

MOORHEAD, Minn. (3/29/17)--- Senior Joe Hallock had a pretty good day at Bucky Burgau Field in Concordia's 6-5 win over Jamestown.

Hallock, who was featured on the cover of the GameDay program and was the subject of a feature in the Forum sports page on Wednesday, collected the first hit of the game, had the only multi-hit game for Concordia and recorded the last out in the Cobbers' dramatic victory over the Jimmies.

Hallock's clutch hitting and timely pitching helped Concordia win its eighth game of the season and move to 8-7 on the year. Jamestown has its five-game win streak come to an end and is now 21-9 on the year.

Hallock helped Concordia jump out to an early lead as he came up with one of the three hits in the bottom of the first to give the Cobbers' a 3-0 cushion.  Nate Leintz and Cody Rahman had RBI singles in the frame to give CC a wire-to-wire lead.

Jamestown would cut the Concordia lead to 3-2 with single runs in the third and fourth innings but then the Cobbers responded with back-to-back single run innings in the fifth and sixth to take a 5-2 lead.

Hallock drove in the lone run in the fifth when he drove a one-out single to center field. The Cobbers' run in the sixth came courtesy of a double steal where Nate Hoeft swiped third and Chad Johnson stole second. The  Jamestown's catchers' throw to third bounced by the third baseman which allowed Hoeft to get up and score the fifth run of the game for Concordia.

The Cobbers would then extend the lead to four runs in the bottom of the eighth. Catcher Alec Sames was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. He then took second base on a sacrifice bunt and moved to third base on a passed ball. Johnson then knocked home the eventual game-winning run by coming up with a single to left field.

Concordia needed every run of their four-run lead in a turbulent top of the ninth inning. The Jimmies got three of their first four hitters in the inning on base and scored three times. The eventual game-tying run got on first via a walk with two outs before Hallock was summoned from the bullpen to close out the game. He threw four pitches and got the final batter looking on a called third strike to end the game.

Zack Nelson and Austin Ver Steeg combined to pitch 8.2 innings and kept the potent Jimmie offense at bay for most of the game. Nelson got the start, went the first 4.0 innings and was credited with the win. He allowed five hits and struck out seven. He had four K's in the first two innings alone. Ver Steeg entered the game in the top of the fifth and rolled through the Jamestown lineup until one out in the ninth inning. He allowed four hits in 4.2 innings, gave up three earned runs and struck out a pair of batters.

STUNG BY SINGLES: Concordia had eight hits in the game and all eight were of the one-base variety. Joe Hallock was the only CC batter with more than one hit. He went 2-for-5 and drove in a run.

DON'T RUB IT: In addition to the eight singles, Concordia hitters also reached base five times after getting hit by a pitch. The five HBPs are the most in a single game this season and the most since the 2012 season when they were also "beaned" five time against St. Mary's.

"GO GO" COBBERS: Concordia had six stolen bases in the win against Jamestown. That is also a single game high water mark for the season. It is also the most stolen bases in a single game since the 2012 season when they swiped seven against Minn.-Morris. The Cobbers now have 19 stolen bases on the season which is tied for fourth most in the MIAC and 11 shy of their total from all of last year.

WHAT'S NEXT: The Cobbers will open up conference play when they travel to St. Paul to take on Macalester on Sunday, Apr. 2 at 1:30. The Scots are 9-7 in non-conference play and are coming off a home sweep over Wis.-Superior on Wednesday.