Late Innings Unkind To Cobbers At Gustavus

ST. PETER, Minn. (4/20/24)---The late innings were unkind to Concordia at Gustavus on Saturday. The Cobbers gave up six unanswered runs in the final three frames in Game 1 after the opener was tied 6-6 heading into the bottom of the fourth and then led 11-4 in the seventh inning of Game 2 before conceding eight straight runs and losing 12-11.

The two defeats end the Cobbers' 2-game win streak and move Concordia to 7-7 in MIAC play, which is good for sixth place in the race for the four conference playoff spots. The Gusties are now 7-5 in league play and in sole possession of fourth place.

Game 1: Concordia 6, Gustavus 11
It was the first of two rollercoaster rides for the Cobbers in St. Peter as they allowed five runs in the very first inning, fought their way back to tie the game with four runs in the top of the fourth before giving up the final five runs and falling 11-6.

Concordia cut into the 5-0 deficit when they scored a pair of runs in the third. The 2-run blast in the inning was delivered by outfielder Caiden Kjelstrom who launched a home run over the right-field fence which scored David Dorsey after Dorsey got on board with a leadoff infield single. The long ball was Kjelstrom's first career homer.

Gustavus was able to post a single run in the bottom of the third and then CC exploded for a 4-run fourth inning to tie the game at 6-6. All four of the runs came on a 2-out rally.

CC had four hits in the fourth and with Kjelstrom having a 2-run single and Thomas Horan doubling home Justin Kloster after Kloster walked.

Concordia had eight hits in the opener with Kjelstrom leading the way. He went 3-for-4 with four RBI. It was his first 3-hit game of the year – and his four RBI are a career-high in a single game.

Dorsey had the other multiple-hit game. He was 2-for-3 with three runs scored.

Carter Thielke, Brett Engelmeyer and Ethan Beyer pitched the 6.0 innings for the Cobbers.

Game 2: Concordia 11, Gustavus 12
The final game of the doubleheader was all Concordia – until it wasn't. The Cobbers took an 11-4 lead behind a single run in the second, four in the fourth and six more in the sixth.  

The Cobbers outhit Gustavus 14-13 in the finale with CC posting 11 hits in the fourth and sixth innings and GAC recording seven of their 13 hits in the seventh and eighth frames.

Kloster came through with a 2-run double in the fourth. Horan and Zack Ehnstrom recording RBI singles.

Concordia sent 11 hitters to the plate in the sixth inning. Horan had a 2-run single, Ben Shumansky laced a run-scoring single to right field, Isaac Henkemeyer-Howe and Chance Bye drove in single runs and Drew Dorsey had an RBI double to left field.
Gustavus was able to score all six of their runs in the seventh inning with two outs in the frame and then added the decisive two runs in the eighth.

Concordia used four pitchers in Game 2 with starter Grant Anderson having the most success. He went the first 2.1 innings, didn't allow a run, gave up one hit and fanned five.

Horan went 2-for-5 with three RBI in the second game and is tied with David Dorsey for the team lead in multiple-hit games with nine.

Shumansky went 1-for-5 to extend his hit streak to six games.

UP NEXT: Concordia will return home to host St. John's on Tuesday, Apr. 23 at 2:30 p.m.