Walkofff Warriors Clinch MIAC Playoff Spot On Senior Celebration Day

MOORHEAD, Minn. (5/08/22)---The fourth walkoff win in the past five home games was the sweetest. Carter Mulcahy's deep fly ball to right field scored not one, but two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Concordia a 5-4 win over Gustavus. The walkoff celly was even more sweet since the victory clinched a conference playoff spot for the Cobbers.

The teams were then unable to start Game 2 due to lightning protocol, and will have to finish the regular season on Monday, May 9 at 4:30 in a single game that will be played at St. John's.

The improbable playoff run for the Cobbers included four walkoff wins at The Buck in the past five days. CC pulled the feat against St. Mary's twice, then in the second game against Carleton and finally against the Gusties. What makes the streak even more magical is the fact that in each game they came from behind in the final inning to get the win.

The victory gives Concordia a 10-9 record in MIAC play. If they would happen to lose to Gustavus on Monday they would drop into a 3-way tie for fourth place in the league standings with St. Scholastica and St. Mary's. The Cobbers hold the tie-breaker in that scenario since they posted a 3-1 record against the Saints and Cardinals during the regular season. That id better than the 2-2 mark by SMU and the 1-3 record held by St. Scholastica.

The latest installment of the Walkoff Warriors reality show started ominously as starting pitcher Jacoby Nold had to leave the game after pitching to only two batters. Alex Rudquist came into the game and gave Concordia a huge lift by going 3.2 innings. He left the game with the score tied at 3-3 to give CC a chance to win the game. Kyle Cluff pitched the fifth frame, and then Matt Gruber walked the 20 feet from his spot at third base to close out the final two innings and earn his second win of the year.

Concordia scored the first three runs of the game with two outs in the bottom of the first. Gruber was on second base when the rally started. Isaac Henkemeyer-Howe singled through the right side to give CC a 1-0 lead. Mulcahy reached on an error to the right fielder that allowed Henkemeyer-Howe to score all the way from first. Wyatt Gunkel capped the 3-run streak when he singled to right field to score Mulcahy from second base.

Gustavus (25-12, 12-7 MIAC) scored the next four runs in the game, and took a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth inning. That set the stage for the Comeback Cobbers.

Thomas Horan started the seventh with a single to left field. Andy Gravdahl followed with a single to right field that allowed Horan to move up to third base. Gravdahl then stole second base to set the stage for improbable 2-run sacrifice fly.

Mulcahy got behind in the count 0-2 and then drove a high fast ball deep into right field. The Gustie right fielder was able to catch the ball near the fence. Horan easily scored from third, and Gravdahl tagged from second to get the game-winning run to third with only one out. Gravdahl's lightning sped allowed third base coach Anthony Renz to wave him home to set up a play at the plate. The relay throw was on target, but a fraction of a second late as Gravdahl slide head first into home with the playoff-clinching win.

Concordia outhit the Gusties 7-6 in Game 1. Senior Max Boran was the only CC player with more than one hit in the game. He went 2-for-3. Horan, Gravdahl, Gruber, Henkemyer-Howe and Gunkel all had a single hit in the opener.

UP NEXT: Concordia will finish off the regular season when they play Gustavus at St. John's on Monday, May 9 at 4:30 p.m.    

Carter Mulcahy's 2-Run, Walkoff Sacrifice Fly