Senior catcher Alec Sames had a team-high two hits in the Cobbers' 13-2 win over Wartburg. He is hitting .444 for the season.
Senior catcher Alec Sames had a team-high two hits in the Cobbers' 13-2 win over Wartburg. He is hitting .444 for the season.

Offense & Defense Shine In Win

STORY LINE: Concordia used the strength of their offense to hammer out a 13-2 win over Wartburg on the second day of their annual spring break trip. The game, which lasted almost four hours due to a rain delay after the first inning, featured eight pitchers and 18 combined hits.

RECORDS: Concordia has now won three straight to start the season. It's the first time they have won their first three games of the season since 2015 when they began the year with six straight wins and went 8-1 in Florida. Wartburg, who was picked to finish third in the American Rivers Conference, is now 1-2 after starting the year 1-0.

GAME REPLAY: The Cobbers posted four multiple-run innings on their way to recording their second double-digit run total in the first three games of the season. Concordia scored nine times in the first three innings before the Knights countered with a single run in the fourth. CC plated two in the first and then produced two of their four runs in the second before the game was delayed for almost an hour due to a rain storm. CC would then retake the field and score twice more in the second before plating three more in the third. The Cobbers pushed the lead to 13-1 in the seventh before Wartburg got one back to make the final total 13-2.     

I'M WALKING HERE: Concordia had nine hits in the game against Wartburg. The Cobbers showed their early-season batting eyes by recording 10 walks in the seven innings. It marks the second time this season they have had 10 bases on balls in a game. They also had 10 in the opener against King's College. The 20 walks have helped Concordia post a hefty .578 on-base percentage. CC has 22 walks in the first three games. It took the Cobbers until the seventh game last year to reach the 22-walk mark.

MASON MAKES 'EM COUNT: Sophomore third baseman Mason Penske went 1-for-3 in the game but came away with a game-best 4 RBI. He plated a run with a sac fly in the second and then had a 3-run double with the bases loaded in the third inning. The four runs driven in a single game is a career high for Penske who had six total RBI last season.

SAMES AND SCHULTZ LOVE 2-HIT GAMES: Concordia had a pair of players with two hits in the game. Senior catcher Alec Sames and sophomore left fielder Luke Schultz both had a pair of base knocks to lead CC. The 2-hit game continues a trend for both players. Sames has played in two of the three games this year and has two hits in each of his starts. He is now 4-for-9 (.444) for the year. Schultz has started all three games and has two hits in all three. He is now 6-for-13 (.462).

COLIN CUTS 'EM DOWN: Sophomore Colin Richards earned the win after pitching three innings starting in the second frame. He relieved starter Austin Ver Steeg after the rain delay and then rattled off three straight innings to record his second college victory. Richards was 1-2 as a freshman and had a 2.76 ERA.

BUCKY'S NEATO STAT OF THE DAY: Concordia recorded its second errorless game of the year. CC only has one miscue on the season and has a combined team fielding percentage of .989. Last year the Cobbers were last in the MIAC in fielding with a .948 mark.

UP NEXT: Concordia continue with their single-game day stretch when the square off against Penn St.-New Kensington on Wednesday, Mar. 6 at 8 a.m. (central time). The Lions are 1-1 on the season after splitting their games in the first day in Florida on Monday.