Long Ball Leads To Offensive Sweep

Long Ball Leads To Offensive Sweep

STORY LINE: Concordia used five multiple-run innings to sweep Macalester 4-2, 13-1 in St. Paul. The Cobbers pounded out 23 hits and scored 17 runs as they recorded their first MIAC sweep of the season. CC used a pair of 2-run frames in the opener and then exploded for six runs in the sixth and four more in the eighth to come away with the 12-run win.

RECORDS: The two wins snap a 2-game losing skid for the Cobbers. Concordia has now won three of their last four games and moves to 9-11 on the season. The conference sweep helps CC even their MIAC record at 3-3. Macalester falls to 8-10 on the year and, after splitting their first two league series against Gustavus and St. Thomas, the Scots drop to 2-4 in league play.

GAME 1 RECAP: The first game started with a slight drizzle but that didn't dampen the offense as the Cobbers scored twice in the first inning. The biggest hit of the entire day came off the bat of senior catcher Alec Sames as he hammered a long fly ball over the left field fence to stake Concordia to the 2-0 lead. Macalester would tie the game with single runs in the first and second innings before CC won the game with two more runs in the top of the fifth. Mason Penske doubled home Nate Hoeft and then Austin Ver Steeg singled to left field to score Sean McGuire with the insurance run.

Ver Steeg also made an impact on the mound. He pitched a complete game and struck out six and only allowed two earned runs. He was at his best late in the game as he retired nine of the last 10 batters and he faced the minimum number of batters in the final three innings.

GAME 2 RECAP: Concordia got on the board in the first inning in Game 2 as well – and for the second straight game it was Sames who did the damage. He singled home Hoeft to give CC the 1-0 lead. The Cobbers tacked on two more runs in the fourth frame and then blew the game open with six runs on six hits in the sixth. Sames had two more RBI with a double to left center and then McGuire singled home two runs with a single. Concordia added four more runs in the eighth but didn't have a hit in the frame. CC was aided by three walks, a hit by pitch and a pair of Scot errors. Concordia had five different players with two hits in the finale.

The Cobbers used a pair of pitchers in the second game. Cole Christensen went the first 7.0 innings and then Colin Richards went 1.0 innings. Christensen struck out 11 and allowed one earned run. Richards didn't give up a hit and fanned a pair.

HAVE A DAY: Alec Sames showed up on the big stage on Final Four Saturday. Sames went 3-for-9 and drove in five runs. The biggest news was the fact that he came up with his first collegiate home run. Sames made sure that his first college long ball would be memorable as he clouted a blast in the first inning of Game 1 that was well over 400 feet.

FINALLY, A LONG BALL: Sames' dinger in the opener was the first home run of the season for the Cobbers. Concordia now has three players on their roster who have hit homers in their college careers.

COLE KOUNTER: Super senior Cole Christensen continues to make opposing batters miss. His 11 Ks in the second game marked the second straight outing, and third in the last four, that he has posted a double-digit strikeout total. Christensen now has 42 strikeouts on the year which leads the MIAC.      

RATED PG: Mason Penske and Andy Gravdahl were the lone Cobbers to have two hits in each game. Penske finished the day by going 4-for-9 and drove in a pair of runs. Gravdahl was 4-for-7 and scored a run. Penske leads the Cobbers in hitting with a .375 average. Gravdahl is now hitting .302.

UP NEXT: Concordia will hopefully host their home opener on Tuesday, Apr. 9. The Cobbers are scheduled to host Hamline at 2:30 and 4:30.