The Concordia University baseball team finished the weekend on a high note after splitting with one of the top teams in the GPAC, Nebraska Wesleyan, Saturday at NWU field in Lincoln, Neb. The Prairie Wolves took game one 9-5 with Concordia taking game two 4-2.
In game one the Prairie Wolves scored six runs in the first two innings on seven hits and just one Concordia. The Nebraska Wesleyan starter Josh Ostrom was able to hold off the Concordia offense while his offense added some insurance for him. Ostrom threw a complete game, scattering eight hits and giving up five runs (three earned). The Bulldogs were led offensively by freshman leadoff hitter Morgan Blatnik, who went 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. John Couch was tagged with the loss for the Bulldogs running his record to 3-3 on the 2009 season.
Game two brought a change of fortunes for the Bulldogs, who have struggled closing out games. Jamie Dillard's seventh home run of the season gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning. The Prairie Wolves threatened in the bottom of the third, but with one run already scored and the bases still loaded, Concordia starter Peyton McLachlan got the Nebraska Wesleyan hitter to ground into a 6-4-3 inning-ending double play. The Bulldogs would add runs in the fifth and six innings with the Prairie Wolves cutting into the Concordia lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth.
Concordia closer Nate Comes came in to shut out the game in the seventh but not without adding some drama to the situation having to face the heart of the Nebraska Wesleyan lineup. Leadoff hitter Josh Ostrom reached base with a single to right field but failed to advance when the next hitter flew out to right field. Ostrom moved to second when Max Hubka singled through the right side of the infield. The bases were suddenly full of Prairie Wolves when Comes hit Dan Beckman with still just one out. Comes then was able to induce a game-ending double play, getting Griffin DePriest to hit a bouncer right back to Comes. Comes then threw home, and Joe Bercerra's throw to first was in time to complete the double play.
McLachlan picked up the win for the Bulldogs in game two, throwing 5 1-3 innings, giving up two runs (both earned) on six hits while striking out three. Comes picked up the save for the Bulldogs who are now 7-22 overall and 2-9 in the GPAC. The Bulldogs now need just one more win to surpass their 2008 win total of eight with 16 games remaining on the schedule.
Next action for the Bulldogs comes Tuesday, April 7 as Concordia will travel to Orange City, Iowa, to take on the Northwestern College Red Raiders in a double header scheduled to start at 5 p.m.
Game 1 Box / Game 2 Box