Cobbers Drop Double Dip At US Bank Stadium

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (3/19/23)---It was a tough day at the ballpark for the Cobbers, as they dropped a pair of games against Loras at US Bank Stadium.

Concordia held a lead in both games, but weren't able to keep the Duhawks at bay and lost 12-4 and 7-6. The Cobbers led 6-4 heading into the seventh inning in Game 2, but then surrendered three in the final frame to lose by a single run.

The two losses end Concordia's 3-game win streak. CC is now 5-9 on the year. Loras ups their overall record to 9-5.

Concordia jumped to a 2-0 lead in top of the third in the opener when Matt Gruber's 2-out single scored Andy Gravdahl and Ryan Kloster. Kloster opened the inning when he walked in his first collegiate at-bat.

Loras had a pair of big-run innings that proved to be the deciding factor in Game 1. The Duhawks countered the Cobbers two runs in the top of the third with five in the bottom of the inning. Loras would then put up a 6-spot in the sixth to push the lead to 12-2.

Concordia got a pair of runs back in the top of the seventh inning. Both runs were driven in by Isaac Henkemeyer-Howe who singled up the middle to score Thomas Horan and Chance Bye.         

Loras held a 12-7 advantage in hits in the first game. Carter Mulcahy and Jake Christianson had multiple--hit games for CC. Mulcahy was 2-for-4 in the No.5 spot, while Christianson was 2-for-3 right behind Mulcahy in the order.

Ashwin Stratton and Gabe Duncan combined for the 7.0 innings of play on the mound. Stratton got the start and went the first 5.0 innings. Duncan pitched the sixth inning.

The Cobbers appeared to be on their way to a split in the DH in the second game after they scored six runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 6-2 lead. Loras would win the game behind a 2-run sixth and then the three runs in the seventh inning.

One of the key points in the game came in the bottom of the sixth after the Duhawks had cut Concordia's lead to 6-4. Gravdahl led off with a double to left field. Christianson followed with a single, and Gruber reached on an error to load the bases with no one out. The Cobbers weren't able to score a run in the inning as the next three hitters went strikeout, strikeout, ground out to the pitcher.

Concordia stranded nine runners on base in Game 2 and went 0-for-7 with two outs in the inning.

The Cobbers outhit Loras 10-7 in the finale. Christianson went 3-for-4 from the leadoff spot and was 5-for-8 for the day. He leads the Cobbers with a .432 average and has hit safely in four straight games. He is 8-for-15 in that 4-game stretch. Christianson also has a team-best six multiple-hit games.

Horan and Gravdahl both had two hits in Game 2.

Concordia used three pitchers in the second game. Dylan Inniger went the first 4.0 innings and allowed four hits and two runs while striking out four. Luke Levasseur went 2.0 innings, while Max Boran pitched the seventh inning.                
 
UP NEXT: The Cobbers are scheduled to travel to Illinois next weekend to take part in the Wheaton Invitational on Mar. 24-25. CC will open the tournament by facing Calvin (Mich.) on Friday, Mar. 24 at 11 a.m.