Concordia sweeps Valley City in a slug out followed by a pitcher's duel
The Concordia University, Nebraska, baseball team won both a slugfest and a pitcher's duel on Sunday, March 25. The Bulldogs swept a doubleheader over Valley City State University, 13-6 and 2-0.
Following Sunday's action Concordia is 15-11 this season, while Valley City State is 7-13.
Game One: Concordia 13, Valley City State 6
After falling behind in the second on a two-run blast by Casey Clark, the Concordia offense came alive with six runs in the third and five more in the fourth to build an 11-2 lead.
The most powerful weapon displayed by the Bulldogs in the third was patience. With one out in the inning, senior Zak Goodrich (Lutz, Fla.) was hit by a pitch. Senior Martin Rodriguez (Tucson, Ariz.) sent Goodrich to second with a single to right center, finally freshman Andrew Yerrell (Santa Fe, Texas) loaded the bases with a walk.
The first two Concordia runs came in as senior Brandon Pflug (Ft. Morgan, Colo.) was hit by a pitch, then senior Anthony Flores (Craig, Colo.) drew a bases loaded walk. One out later, freshman Daniel Wilkerson (Santa Fe, Texas) cleared the bases with a three-run double. Junior Kyle Ivanoff (Tucson, Ariz.) pushed the Concordia lead to 6-0 with an RBI single to center.
The Bulldogs added five more runs on three hits and an error in the fifth, highlighted by a two-run double from senior Tate Bedwell (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Concordia went on to push the lead to 13-3 with two more runs in the sixth and went on to claim the game, 13-6.
Bulldog starter, senior Steven Ivanoff, notched his fourth victory (4-2) of the season with his fourth complete game of the year. Ivanoff allowed six runs on 11 hits and one walk, while recording three strikeouts.
Valley City State's Derek Zitzow (1-2) took the loss, surrendering five runs on three hits and three walks in 2.1 innings.
Game Two: Concordia 2, Valley City State 0
The Bulldogs had to play a different style in game two as Concordia junior Jordan Stirtz (Gretna, Neb.) and Valley City State's Taylor Nelson matched each other pitch-for-pitch.
Stirtz held the Vikings hitless through the first three innings, while Nelson held Concordia to one hit through two innings. In the bottom of the third, Nelson was able to work around two singles from Goodrich and Rodriguez to send the game to the fourth still scoreless.
Stirtz surrendered his first hit in the fourth, but continued with a perfect fifth.
Nelson, meanwhile, tossed a perfect fourth but ran into trouble in the fifth. With one out in the inning, Flores and Ivanoff singled to put runners at first and second. After a wild pitch advanced the Bulldogs ninety feet, Goodrich supplied all the offense necessary on a two-run double just inside the right field line.
In the sixth, Stirtz was helped out of a first and third jam by sophomore Heath Banker (Florence, Colo.). Then senior Josh Anderson (Westminster, Colo.) worked a one hit seventh for his fourth save of the season.
Stirtz moved to 2-5 on the year with 5.1 innings of shutout ball. Stirtz limited the Vikings to three hits and two walks in the win.
Valley City State's Nelson was dealt the loss (0-4), giving up two runs on six hits in six innings.
The Bulldogs return to the diamond on Tuesday, March 27 as they travel to York, Neb. for a doubleheader with No. 22 York College. First pitch is set for 4 pm.
25 March 2012
