Bornhauser And Merriman Earn MIAC Weekly Honors

MOORHEAD, Minn. (3/02/15)—Nick Bornhauser and Ross Merriman continued Concordia's early-season success by being named the MIAC Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week. The two helped the Cobbers win the first six games of the season which is the best start to a season since 1995.

Borhnauser, the team's starting first baseman, led the team's offensive explosion in the first six games by hitting a team-best. 550. He hit safely in all six games and also led the team in on-base percentage (.640). In the first six games of the year Bornhauser has 11 hits to go along with six RBI and three walks.

Bornhauser also helped the Concordia defense post a .976 fielding percentage in the first six games. The Cobbers have only committed five errors so far this season. Bornhauser has not committed an error in 50 chances at first base.

Bornhauser was especially good on opening day, as he went 5-for-7 with four runs and three RBI in a pair of wins - 13-0 and 14-2 - over Houghton. he was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI in a win over Augustana, 2-for-3 with three runs in a 16-2 victory over St. Vincent, and he also had a hit in each of the team's other two wins. Bornhauser currently ranks first in the MIAC in runs scored (10) and on-base percentage (.640). He's second in hitting (.550), third in walks (three), fifth in RBI (six) and sixth in total bases (13).     

Merriman is the team's top pitcher and showed his No.1 form by winning his first two games of the year. He has pitched in 10 total innings and has posted a scant 1.80 ERA. Merriman has only allowed 10 hits and one walk on the year while striking out five.

Merriman didn't waste any time rounding into mid-season form, as he didn't allow an earned run in his 2015 debut. The righty tossed five scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and one walk with two strikeouts in a 13-0 win over Houghton. He was nearly as good in his second start as he improved to 2-0 with five more good innings in a 16-2 victory over St. Vincent. Merriman allowed two runs on six hits with no walks and three strikeouts. Thus far in 2015, the junior ranks first in the MIAC in innings pitched and wins and opponents are hitting just .278 against him after two starts.     

Concordia has three more games in Florida before returning to campus. The Cobbers will open the northern part of their schedule on Saturday, Mar. 21 when they play at Nebraska Wesleyan.