Bulldogs return to the win column, 15-2 over Roosevelt
Catapulted by five first inning runs, the Concordia University, Nebraska, baseball team defeated Roosevelt University, 15-2, on Monday, March 12 in the Russ Matt Invitational.
With the win the Bulldogs improved to 8-9 on the season, while the Lakers fell to 0-7.
Before Roosevelt could get to the plate, Concordia took control as seven of the first eight Bulldog hitters reached base safely. Senior Zak Goodrich (Lutz, Fla.) began the onslaught with a single up the middle. Senior Martin Rodriguez (Tucson, Ariz.) sacrificed Goodrich to second for the first out of the inning. Freshman Adam Yerrell (Santa Fe, Texas) drove home the first run with a single to center.
Back-to-back singles from seniors Brandon Pflug (Ft. Morgan, Colo.) and Tate Bedwell (Colorado Springs, Colo.) made it 2-0. Following a passed ball that sent Pflug to third and Bedwell to second, freshman Daniel Wilkerson (Santa Fe, Texas) blasted a double into right field to drive in both Concordia runners and make it 4-0.
The rally continued as senior Anthony Flores (Craig, Colo.) was hit by a pitch, then junior Kyle Ivanoff (Tucson, Ariz.) plated Wilkerson with a single to left.
Staked to a 5-0 lead, Concordia starter junior Jordan Stirtz (Gretna, Neb.) breezed through five scoreless innings for the win (1-3). Stirtz finished with four strikeouts, while allowing just three hits and did not walk a batter.
The Bulldogs' offense continued to pile on the runs, adding one in the second, and three more in the fifth, sixth as well as the ninth innings. The offensive leader, junior Ray Finley (Tucson, Ariz.) finished the game 3-for-4 with four RBI and a run scored. Finley's big blast came in the ninth as he launched a three-run home run over the left field wall.
Roosevelt's Alex Miramontes suffered the loss, allowing nine runs on 13 hits in 4.2 innings.
The Bulldogs and Lakers return to the diamond on Tuesday, March 13 for a doubleheader at Pat Thomas Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 10 am.
