Clutch Hits Are Scarce In MIAC Playoff Opener

ST. PAUL, Minn. (5/12/22)---Concordia wasn't able to string together clutch hits and lost 7-0 to Bethel in the first game of the MIAC playoffs. The Cobbers went 1-for-11 with runners on base in their first appearance in a 4-team MIAC Tournament since 2015.

The Royals had a trio of crooked-number innings to beat Concordia. Bethel posted a pair of runs in the fourth and sixth innings, and then opened the game up by plating three runners in the seventh.

The loss sends Concordia to the elimination game on Saturday where they will face St. John's at 12:00 at CHS Field.

The Cobbers' best chance to score came in the fifth inning when Wyatt Gunkel and Jake Christianson posted back-to-back, 1-out singles. The bad break of the game followed in the very next, as Max Boran blooped a fly ball to right field. Both runners had to stay close to the base figuring the Bethel outfielder would catch the ball. Unfortunately for Concordia, the BU player made an error and dropped the ball. Christianson scrambled to try and get to second, but the Royal's right fielder immediately picked up the ball and fired it to second for the easy force play. The BU shortstop made the relay throw to third base to get Gunkel before he could touch the base.

Concordia only posted one hit in the final four innings and wasn't able to push a runner past second base.

Concordia was outhit 10-4 in the playoff game. Gunkel, Christianson, Matt Gruber and Carter Mulcahy had the hits for CC – and all were singles.

Dylan Inniger got the start in the first postseason game and went 5.2 innings. He allowed four runs and struck out three. Ethan Beyer and Mason Klevgaard pitched the final 2.1 innings with Klevgaard holding the Royals off the board in the eighth inning.

UP NEXT: The Cobbers will face St. John's in the conference tournament's first elimination game on Saturday, May 12 at 12:00 p.m.