Big-Run Innings Rule Sunday

AUBURNDALE, Fla. (3/08/20)---Concordia conceded five multiple-run innings in the doubleheader against Dicksinson (Pa.), gave up seven runs in both game and lost 7-0, 7-3 to the Red Devils.

The pair of 7-run games comes a day after the Cobbers allowed seven runs against Saint Vincent. The three straight losses evens Concordia's season record to 5-5 after the Cobbers had started their Florida trip by winning five of the first seven games.

GAME 1
Dickinson set the tone for the day by opening the first game with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Red Devils then added 2-run innings in the third and sixth to come away with the 7-0 victory.   

Concordia had five hits in the game and their best chance to score came in the sixth inning when they had runners on second and third with only one out but a pop out and a ground ball to the pitcher derailed the scoring opportunity. CC also had a pair of runners on in the second frame with two outs but a ground out to the pitcher also stopped that rally.

The Cobbers had five players with single hits in the opener. Thomas Horan, Matt Gruber, Austin Ver Steeg, Mason Penske and Max Boran accounted for the five CC hits in the game. Ver Steeg had the only extra base hit as he entered the game as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning and laced a 1-out double to left field.

Concordia was 2-for-10 with runners on base in the first game and went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

Mitchell Ziebarth went the distance on the mound. He struck out five and didn't walk a batter but gave up 11 hits.

GAME 2
The second game was all about the big inning. Both teams had a 4-run frame but it was Dickinson's 3-run fifth that proved to be the difference.

The Red Devils took a 4-0 lead in the top of the third and then added the three in the fifth to take a 7-0 lead.  

Concordia finally got on the board on Sunday in the bottom of the seventh inning when they scored four runs on two hits. CC received four walks in the seventh as they tried to erase the 7-run deficit.

The Cobbers were outhit 10-4 in Game 2. Gruber came up with the only multiple-hit game of the day as he went 2-for-3 in the No.3 spot in the order. Ver Steeg and Sean McGuire had the other base knocks for CC.

Mason Penske got the start and went the first 4.2 innings and allowed four earned runs. Freshman Luke Levasseur continued his early-season success by throwing 2.1 innings of scoreless baseball. He struck two and allowed two hits. He has thrown 7.1 innings in Florida and has a team-leading 1.23 ERA.

UP NEXT: Concordia will have their final junior varsity day on Monday and then finish off the varsity schedule in Florida with a pair of games against Pitt-Greensburg on Tuesday, Mar. 10 starting at 8:30 a.m. (cdt). The Bobcats are 1-4 on the season.