17 Hits = Back To .500

MOORHEAD, Minn. (4/19/12)--Kyle Kraemer went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs to help Concordia cruise past Valley City State 11-4 and even their overall record at 14-14. The Cobbers had 10 different players record at least one hit as they outhit the Vikings 17-7.

On a cold and overcast day at Jake Christiansen Athletic Complex, Concordia put up crooked numbers on the scoreboard in the fist, fourth fifth and seventh innings to earn their second win in the last three games. They scored three times in the very first inning to set the tone for the game. Valley City then tied the game at 3-3 in the third before CC scored once in the bottom of the third, then two in each of the fourth and fifth innings. Concordia had at least one hit in all but the eighth inning and produced more than one hit in five frames.

Kraemer took advantage of his spot start in center field. He plated two runs with a single in the first inning and then backed that up with singles in the sixth and seventh inning and walked in the fourth. Concordia had five players with two hits in the game. He wound up raising his season average to .292 with his three hits in the game. Joining Kramer in the hit parade were Brad Olson, Braden Rahman, Mike Rose, Erik Stoa and Tom Kutz. All five players had two hits in the contest. Both Olson and Rahman had their ninth multiple-hit game of the year and both also scored two runs in the game.

The Cobbers used three pitchers in the game. Erik Simmons started the game and pitched the first 2.1 innings. He gave up three Viking runs. Tom Alton entered the game in the third and pitched the middle 4.2 frames and only allowed one hit in recording his first collegiate win. He also struck out three on the day. Kirk Schroeder finished off the game by not allowing a hit in the final 2.1 innings of play. He gave up one earned run as he walked three batters.

The CC pitchers did a great job in getting clutch outs throughout the game. Valley City (10-26) stranded 15 runners in the game, including eight in the first three innings alone.

Concordia will continue their homestand when they host conference for Macalester on Saturday, Apr. 21 at 1 p.m.