Cobbers And Oles Trade Double-Digit Run Totals In Split

NORTHFIELD, Minn. (4/23/22)---Concordia traded double-digit run totals with St. Olaf and split the doubleheader in Northfield. The Cobbers put up 17 hits in Game 1 to post a 14-2 win, but then allowed 10 runs in the nightcap and fell 10-4.

Carter Mulcahy, Isaac Henkemeyer-Howe and Jake Christianson had multiple-hit games in both contests to lead the Cobber offense, while freshman pitcher Jacoby Nold recorded his third straight win by going 5.0 innings in the opener.

Concordia (10-9, 5-5 MIAC) outhit the Oles 28-21 in the two games. The 28 hits are the most by the Cobbers in a conference DH this season.   

Concordia won the opener in the first and fourth innings. They scored five runs in each of those two frames to take an early 5-0 lead, and then extend the lead to 11-1.

The Cobbers scored five runs in the first on five hits and sent 10 players to the plate. Mulcahy had the only extra-base hit in the inning, and Christianson came through with a 2-out, 2-run single.

All five of the runs in the fourth inning came with two outs. Once again it was Christianson that provided the biggest hit. He doubled down the left field line with the bases loaded to drive in three runs. Thomas Horan had the other extra-base hit as he drove in Christianson with a triple on the very next at-bat.

 Concordia had 17 hits in Game 1, 15 of which were singles. CC hit .476 with runners in scoring position and .533 with two outs in an inning in the first game.

Horan, Matt Gruber, Henkemeyer-Howe, Justin Kloster and Christianson all had 2-hit games in the opener, while Mulcahy went 4-for-5.

Nold got the start and went 5.0 innings. He allowed six hits and only one earned run as he earned his third straight win. He also lowered his team-leading ERA to 1.96. Nold has only allowed two extra-base hits in his 23.0 innings of work.

St. Olaf (11-12, 5-6 MIAC) won the second game in the first and seventh innings. The Oles took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, and then scored four times in the seventh after CC had cut a 5-0 lead to 5-4.

The key hit for the Cobbers came in their 4-run fifth when Mulcahy hammered a pitch over the left-field fence for a 3-run homer. It was his second HR of the year.

Concordia used four pitchers in the finale. Alex Rudquist started the game and lasted 4.0 innings. He only allowed two earned runs and struck out six. Luke Levasseur followed with 2.0 innings, and then Kyle Cluff and Ethan Beyer finished off the game. Byer pitched the final 1.1 innings and didn't allow a hit in his first MIAC appearance – and first appearance since Mar. 7.

Henkemeyer-Howe and Christianson both had three hits in Game 2. Christianson went 3-for-4 and finished the day 5-for-8 to up his season batting average to .310. He has hit safely in the last five games and is hitting .614 during that stretch.

I'LL TAKE THAT BACK: Henkemeyer-Howe and Andy Gravdahl have been trading the team lead in batting average throughout the past 10 games. Henkemeyer-Howe retook the lead dur to his 5-for-8 day at the plate. He is now hitting .443 which is 33 points higher than Gravdahl's .410 average.

STREAKS: Gravdahl and Horan both extended hit streaks on Saturday. Gravdahl was 1-for-5 in the opener and 2-for-4 in Game two and has hit safely in eight straight games. Horan was 2-for-4 in Game 1 and 1-for-4 in the finale and has hit safely in seven straight. Horan has upped his season average to .319 on the season.

UP NEXT: Concordia will return home to host Gustavus on Tuesday, Apr. 26 at 2:30 p.m.