Beautiful Day Scoring Blues

MOORHEAD, Minn. (4/24/12)—Concordia conceded the only run of the game in the eighth inning against Dakota Wesleyan and lost 1-0 in a non-conference match-up on Tuesday. The Cobbers outhit the Tigers 5-4 and had runners in scoring position in the eighth and ninth innings but were never able to come up with the clutch hit and lost for the first time in four games.

Playing on the nicest day of the spring, the Cobbers could never solve the pitching riddle from Dakota Wesleyan freshman pitcher Nick Anglin as he continually kept the Concordia hitters off balance with his off-speed pitches. CC never had more than one hit in an inning and only had multiple base runners in the eighth and ninth innings. The other key ingredient for Anglin was his control as he did not walk a batter.

It is only the second time since the very first doubleheader of the season that Concordia has been shutout. Both times the Cobbers have failed to score since the middle of March they have lost 1-0. 

Concordia (16-15) squandered a terrific pitching performance from starter Jackson Meland. Meland pitched the first 7.0 innings, did not concede a run and only allowed two hits. He also picked two of the four runners he allowed to get on base. Meland retired the final 11 batters he faced before being relieved in the top of the eighth inning. Meland has not allowed more than one run in his last six starts and has not given up a run in 10 consecutive innings. He has also allowed only one run in his last 14 innings of work.

With his seven scoreless runs, Meland lowered his season ERA to 1.88. Opposing batters are now hitting just .08 off the lefty.

Chris Gilson pitched the final 2.0 innings and allowed two hits and two walks.

Dakota Wesleyan (20-29) won the game in the eighth inning after the leadoff hitter walked and then advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt. He then scored on a hot smash down the third base line that caromed off the Cobber third baseman and rolled into foul territory down the right field line.

Concordia had their best chances to score in the eighth and ninth innings. CC had runners on first and second with one out in the eight and then had the same runners on second and third with two outs but could never come up with the game-tying hit.

Michael Olson provided the most dramatic moment of the game in the bottom of the ninth. He lifted a ball to deep left-center field that hit off the very top of the fence and bounced back into the field of play. His one-out double went by the boards after Concordia produced a pair of fly balls to end the game.

Olson and Jordan Doschadis had two hits each on the day and Kyle Kraemer came off the bench to get a pinch-hit single.

Concordia will travel to Mayville, N.D. for their final non-conference game of the season on Wednesday, Apr. 25 when they take on Mayville State in a single game at 3 p.m.