Big first inning key in 7-3 win over Ave Maria University

Concordia University jumped out to an early lead and picked up a 7-3 baseball win over Ave Maria University today in Florida.  The Bulldogs improved to 5-7 on the season with the win, while the Gyrenes dropped to 9-16 with the loss. 

The Bulldogs used two hits and several Ave Maria miscues to take the lead in the bottom of the first inning.  Zak Goodrich (Lutz, Fla.) opened the inning with a double.  T.J. Conway (Crete, Neb.) walked, and Ty Shaw (Montrose, Colo.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Brandon Pflug (Ft. Morgan, Colo.) followed with a 2-run single to score Goodrich and Conway.  An error by Ave Maria allowed two more runs to cross the plate later in the inning, and Concordia took an early 4-0 advantage. 

Concordia added a single run in the third inning.  Shaw led off the inning with a walk, and a double by Dustin Matlock (Colorado Springs, Colo.) put runners at second and third with one out.  Following a walk to Ray Finley (Tucson, Ariz.) that loaded the bases, Tate Bedwell (Colorado Springs, Colo.) drew the third walk of the inning to drive home Shaw and increase the Bulldog lead to 5-0. 

The Bulldogs tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning, and all of the damage was done with two outs in the inning.  Conway singled and stole second.  Shaw walked, and Conway advanced to third base on a wild pitch.  Pflug followed with a 2-run double down the left field line to give Concordia a 7-0 lead heading into the fifth inning. 

Ave Maria scored single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, but Concordia secured the 7-3 victory.  Concordia totaled eight hits compared to seven for the Gyrenes.  The Bulldogs picked up the win despite four errors.  Caleb Taylor (Georgetown, Texas) had a solid outing on the mound for Concordia.  The senior allowed three runs on six hits with four walks and four strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work. 

Goodrich and Pflug each had two hits to lead the way offensively for the Bulldogs in the win.  Pflug drove in four runs on the day, while Shaw scored three runs for Concordia. 

Concordia has two games scheduled on Thursday to continue play in the spring break tournament.  The Bulldogs take on Point Park University (Pa.) and Roosevelt University (Ill.).