The Concordia University baseball team had its best outing of the 2009 season in a sweep of the Dordt College Defenders Saturday night in GPAC action at Plum Creek Park in Seward, Neb. Concordia won game one 14-0 in five innings before taking game two 7-4.
Game one was out of hand following a third inning rally in which the Bulldogs registered seven hits, scoring 11 runs. Concordia added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to push their advantage to 14-0. Dordt's pitching staff hurt their team's chances often throughout the first game, walking 10 Concordia batters.
Concordia's starting pitcher, John Couch, cruised through five innings, giving up just six hits while striking out eight players. The win moves Couch to 4-4 in the 2009 season.
Game two brought more drama than game one, with the outcome in doubt until the final out was recorded. Dordt struck early when Travis Feekes led off the game with a single, stole second, and then scored on an infield hit. That would be the only run the Defenders would score in the first, leaving the bases loaded.
Concordia answered with two runs in the bottom of the first. Concordia loaded the bases when the first three batters reached via two walks and a single, setting the table for Jamie Dillard to hit a towering sacrifice fly to right field. Concordia's second run of the inning came when Jack Holmberg beat out a potential double play ball, allowing Zach Goodrich to score from third. The Bulldogs added another run in the bottom of the second on a RBI double by Joe Bercerra.
The Bulldogs surrendered the lead in the top of the third with two bases-loaded walks. Luckily Concordia avoided further damage in the inning when Steven Ivanoff struck out Feekes on a full-count pitch with the bases loaded.
Concordia trailed 4-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth when the Bulldog offense clicked back into gear. Casey Rodriguez led off the inning with a single to left field. Jamie Dillard then put the Bulldogs back in front when he sent a towering homerun over the left field fence. Concordia went on to score four runs on six hits to give them a comfortable 7-4 lead heading into the seventh inning. Jacob Yurich came into the game to close the door on the Defenders, ending the game giving up just one hit in the inning.
Micah May earned the win for the Bulldogs, throwing two innings of relief work. May had one of his best outings of the season, giving up just one run on two hits. Yurich picked up his second save of the season in his inning of work in game two.
With the sweep the Bulldogs move to 12-27 overall and 6-12 in the GPAC while Dordt falls to 9-27 overall and 3-15 in the GPAC.
Game 1 Box / Game 2 Box