More Hits But Not More Runs

STORY LINE: Concordia outhit Cornell (Iowa) 11-4 but left 12 men on base and lost 2-1 to the Rams. The Cobbers had at least one hit in eight of the nine innings and fell for only the second time this spring.

RECORDS: The Cobbers are now 4-2 on the year while Cornell earns a win in the very first game of their season.

GAME CLIFFSNOTES: Cornell scored both of their runs in the third inning – and both were unearned. The eventual game-winning run was scored on a wild pitch with two outs in the frame. Concordia got to within one when they scored their only run in the bottom of the sixth. Sean McGuire gapped a 1-out pitch into the right-center field gap for a double and then scored on a single up the middle by freshman Max Boran. The Cobbers had runners in scoring position in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings but were unable to come up with the game-tying hit.

AUSTIN IS ALL RIGHT: Cobber starting pitcher Austin Ver Steeg pitched the first six innings of the game and didn't allow an earned run. He only gave up three hits and struck out six. Mason Penske followed Ver Steeg and pitched a scoreless seventh and eight before Colin Richards retired the side in the ninth. The trio of pitchers combined to only allow four hits, struck out eight and walked only two batters.   

TODAY'S HITTING STARS SPONSORED BY 3M: The trio of Max Boran, Mason Penske and Sean McGuire all had more than one hit in the game for the Cobbers. Boran led the way by going 3-for-4. He also drove in the lone CC run. Both Penske and McGuire were 2-for-5 with McGuire scoring the Cobber run. Boran is now second on the team in hitting in Florida with a .467 average. McGuire and Penske are both hitting above .300 for the trip.

BEHIND THE NUMBERS: Concordia hit .230 with runners in scoring position for the game and had a .307 average with two outs in an inning. The only hitting stat that really stands out is the fact that CC was 0-for-9 in the leadoff spot in an inning which means they were always battling with at least one out in the frame.

BUCKY'S NEATO STAT OF THE DAY: Concordia had three more doubles against Cornell and now has 13 2-baggers in their first six games of the year.

UP NEXT: Concordia will have a day off in Florida on Saturday, Mar. 9 before returning to action with a doubleheader against Beloit (Ill.) on Sunday, Mar. 10 beginning at 9:00 (central time). Beloit will play their first game of the season on Saturday.