Offense Hits The Wall

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (3/02/17)---Concordia ran into the offensive wall on their fourth day in Florida. After playing four games in three days the Cobbers were slowed by a red-hot pitcher and lost 7-1 to Alma in Winter Haven.

Concordia managed only one hit in the nine-inning game as they fell to 3-4 on the season. Alma wins for the first time all year and is now 1-5.

The Cobbers have now lost two straight after winning their first three games in Florida. In the three wins Concordia combined to score 35 runs and pound out 39 hits. In the last two games CC has come away with five runs and six hits.  

One of the biggest points of the game came in the bottom of the third inning with the Cobbers trailing 3-0. Alec Sames led off the inning with a walk and then Brett Swanson was hit by a pitch, a sacrifice bunt and walk by Grant Toivonen loaded the bases with only one out. Unfortunately CC could only come away with a sacrifice fly and scored a single run to cut the lead to 3-1.

The Scots scored three more times in the eighth and then one more in the ninth to bring the final score to 7-1.

The final drama of the afternoon came in the bottom of the ninth as the Cobbers tried to break up the no-hit attempt and record their first hit of the day. After the first two hitters were retired, Turner Storm hit a high chopper between the shortstop and third baseman and neither fielder could make a play on the ball.

Concordia used three pitchers in the game – including a pair of freshmen hurlers. Alex Erickson started the game and the first-year Cobber lasted 7.0 innings and gave up four earned runs and struck out five. He retired 15 out of 16 batters between the third and seventh innings before running into trouble in the eighth frame.

Senior Joe Hallock came on in the eighth and went the next 1.2 innings. He allowed an unearned run and gave way to freshman Ty Syverson who recorded the final out of the ninth.

WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will have a day off on Friday to rest and get ready for the final doubleheader of the spring trip. After taking in the Minnesota Twins/Philadelphia Philles game in Clearwater on Friday the Cobbers will square off against Wartburg on Saturday, Mar. 4 in a twinbill beginning at 9:45 a.m. central time.