Five Unanswered Runs End Cobbers' Season

ST. PAUL, Minn. (5/13/22)---Concordia scored the first two runs in the MIAC playoffs elimination game with St. John's, but conceded five unanswered runs in the final four innings and lost 6-3.

The loss knocks the Cobbers out of the tournament, and they end the season with a 15-16 overall record.

Andy Gravdahl and Isaac Henkemeyer-Howe led the Cobber offense as both players had multiple-hit games, and combined to drive in all three Concordia runs in Game 3 of the conference tournament.

Concordia grabbed a 2-0 in the bottom of the second after Wyatt Gunkel and Jake Christianson led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Max Boran put down a perfect sacrifice bunt and was able to beat the throw to first to load the bases. Gravdahl proceeded to come through with a clutch 2-out single to right field that scored both Gunkel and Christianson.    

Gravdahl stole second to set up a second-and-third situation, but the runners were stranded on the base paths on the third strikeout of the inning.

St. John's (24-16) cut the lead to 2-1 with a single run in the fifth, but Concordia was able to get that run right back in the bottom of the frame. Henkemeyer's 2-out single to center field scored Gravdahl from second after Gravdahl walked with one out.

The Johnnies tied the game with a 2-run home run in the sixth. They took their first lead of the day on a sacrifice fly to right field. SJU was able to push the lead to three runs on a pair of 2-out hits in the eighth frame.

Concordia was outhit 12-9 in the game. Henkemeyer-Howe went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Gravdahl was 2-for-3 with two RBI, two walks and a stolen base.

Ashwin Stratton cruised the first five innings, but then ran out steam in the sixth. He finished the game with 6.0 innings pitched, three earned runs and one strikeout. Matt Gruber finished the day by going 3.0 innings and allowing three runs on four hits. He also struck out a pair of batters.