Cobbers Split First Ernie Banks Day Of The Season

AUBURNDALE, Fla. (03/03/22)---Concordia had its first "Ernie Banks" day of the 2022 season and came away with a split against Moravian (Pa.).

The Cobbers gave up eight runs in the third inning and lost 12-9 in the opener. CC then rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the sixth inning of the finale and won 5-4.

The split brings Concordia's record to 2-3 in their first five games in Florida. The Greyhounds are now 5-4 on the season.

The Cobbers outhit Moravian in both games. CC held an 11-9 advantage in the first game and then edged the Greyhounds 10-9 in Game 2.

Concordia had leads of 2-0 and 5-2 in Game 1 before Moravian came up with the game-deciding, eight-run third frame.

The offensive highlight of the game came off the bat of junior Thomas Horan who hit the team's first home run of the year. He went yard to lead off the third inning as part of a 2-for-4 game. He also scored a pair of runs.

Wyatt Gunkel and Carter Mulchay also had multiple-hit games. Gunkel was 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored from the No.5 spot in the order. Mulcahy went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Junior Gabe Duncan got the ball for the start in the opener. He went the first 2.2 innings. Sophomore Kyle Cluff had the most successful stint of any CC hurler in the opener. He went the final 2.0 innings, didn't concede a run and only gave up one hit.

The second game was determined in three innings. That stretch featured three different lead changes with the Cobbers getting the last say with a 3-run sixth inning.

Concordia posted single runs in both the fourth and fifth frames, and then won the game in the sixth when they came through with three runs on three hits. Senior Andy Gravdahl came through with a 2-out, 2-run single to give CC a 4-3 lead. Matt Gruber then followed with the eventual game-winning RBI when he laced a single to left field that plated Horan.

The Cobbers had four of their Top 5 hitters in the order all post 2-hit games. Gravdahl and Gruber went 2-for-4 while Gunkel was 2-for-3.

The doubleheader featured the first collegiate baseball appearances by a pair of successful 2-sport athletes. Isaac Henkemeyer-Howe, who starred for the men's hockey team, went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. He went 1-for-3 in the opener to finish the day at 3-for-7.

Men's basketball standout Dylan Inniger got the start on the hill for Concordia in the nightcap. He pitched 1.0 innings and didn't all a hit.

Fellow freshman Alex Rudquist went 3.2 innings and allowed two earned runs to get CC to the late innings. Jake Christianson pitch in the fifth and sixth frames and picked up his first collegiate win. Gruber entered the game in the seventh and allowed a single run before getting the third out with runners on second and third.

UP NEXT: Concordia will have its second off day of the spring trip on Friday and then return to action on Saturday, Mar. 5 when they face Dubuque in a single 9-inning game.