Senior Cole Christensen earned his second straight complete-game win over Hamline as he helped the Cobbers beat the Pipers 6-3 in Game 1.
Senior Cole Christensen earned his second straight complete-game win over Hamline as he helped the Cobbers beat the Pipers 6-3 in Game 1.

Split Ends 20-Day Hiatus

ROSEVILLE, Minn. (4/12/18)---Concordia ended its 20-day weather-induced game hiatus by splitting a doubleheader against Hamline. The Cobbers used a 6-run fourth inning to win the first game 6-3 and then fell 11-2 in the nightcap.

The two games were played at Northwestern University in Roseville and were the first game competition for the Cobbers since Mar. 23.

Concordia and Hamline finished the day dead even in hits as the teams flip-flopped 11-hit, 5-hit games. The Cobbers had 11 hits in Game 1 and then five in Game 2 while the Pipers came away with five base knocks in the first game and 11 in the second.

The Cobbers trailed 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning in the opener and then scored six times on seven hits to take a 6-2 lead. The Pipers would add a single run in the fifth to bring the final total to 6-3.

Senior Cole Christensen went the distance on the mound for CC. After pitching two scoreless innings to start the game he allowed a pair of runs in the third. Christensen then retired the side in order in the fourth, gave up a run on one hit in the fifth and then finished off the game by getting out of a first-and-third jam in the sixth before closing the door with a 1-2-3 seventh.

Christensen allowed five hits and three earned runs in picking up his team-leading third win of the year.

A pair of seniors led the Concordia offense in the win. Chad Johnson went 3-for-3 and drove in the team's fifth run on a double to left field. Turner Storm was 2-for-3 and started the Cobber fourth by lacing a double to left field.

Nate Hoeft, Alec Sames, Austin Ver Steeg and Grant Toivonen all had RBI in the game.

Concordia (8-8/1-1 MIAC) stumbled out of the gate in the second game. CC allowed three runs in the bottom of the first and couldn't get on the board until the sixth inning.

Hamline (6-10/1-1 MIAC) put up multiple-run innings in the first, sixth, seventh and eighth frames.

The decisive inning was the sixth when the Pipers scored three times on five hits after Concordia had cu the lead to 4-2 in the top of the inning.

Freshman Mason Penske was the only Cobber player with more than one hit in Game 2. He went 2-for-2 with a double. Nate Leintz drove in both CC runs when he singled up the middle in the sixth.

Concordia used five pitchers in the game. Fletcher Andel got the start and went the first 5.0 innings. Senior Adam Nibaur was the only Cobber pitcher to come away without allowing a run. He came on in the fifth inning and gave up a pair of hits.

GONE GRETZKY: Chad Johnson added three more hits to his career hit total and now has 99 for his collegiate career. He is on the verge of becoming the 25th player in program history to reach the 100-hit mark. Johnson is currently batting .306 on the year and is second on the team in hits with 19.

DENTED: Turner Storm is also closing in on the 100-hit milestone for the Cobbers. The senior also had three hits against the Pipers and now has 95 for his collegiate career. Storm is now batting .279 on the season and is now second on the team in doubles.

PUMPED TO PLAY THE PIPERS: Cole Christensen has stymied the Pipers the last two seasons. To go along with his complete-game win on Thursday, Christensen blanked Hamline last year in the opening game of the twinbill in St. Paul. In that game he went 7.0 innings, only allowed four hits and struck out four.     

WHAT'S NEXT: Who knows? Concordia is scheduled to host St. Olaf on Saturday, Apr. 14 but the winter weather conditions will most likely move that back to a later date. The Cobbers are then slated to play at Augsburg on Sunday, Apr. 15 but a winter storm heading to the Twin Cities will likely knock that back as well.  If the weather goes according to plan in the F-M area then next DH for CC could be at home against St. Mary's on Apr. 18.