Bulldogs swept in season-opening doubleheader
By Lukas Vigil, Sports Information Intern
LINDSBORG, Kan. – The Concordia Bulldog baseball team opened the 2013 season Saturday with a pair of losses to Bethany College in frigid Lindsborg, Kan. The Bulldogs dropped the first game 5-2 and then got shutout in the second, 10-0. Once the first game got going the temperature was at 35 degrees with a very strong wind, making playing conditions a challenge for both teams.
Senior Jeremiah Luber got the start for the Bulldogs in the first game pitching 4.1 innings while giving up four earned runs.
“I thought Jeremiah pitched very well, but we obviously didn't hit well enough to win,” head coach Jeremy Geidel said.
Sean McCartney led the way for the Bulldogs in the hits department with two, while both Kyle Ivanoff and Ray Finley each had a RBI.
Bethany College got a strong start from their ace Clayton Cozzitorto, who pitched six innings and gave up two earned runs and struck out five batters. The Bulldogs ultimately finished with two runs on six hits, while the Swedes finished with five runs on nine hits.
In the second game, the combination of solid pitching and timely hitting by the Swedes is what ultimately led to Bethany’s second victory of the day.
“Their pitcher did a good job keeping us off balance with his off speed. We took some good swings though. We didn't have many hits but we had a lot of hard hit balls right at people,” Geidel said.
Bethany’s Boston Draper pitched a complete game and had Concordia off balance all game, allowing the Bulldogs only two hits on the afternoon.
Joe Brandenburg struggled in his first start of the season giving up four earned runs in two innings of work. However Coach Geidel was pleased with his young bullpen that came in to help Brandenburg.
“Game two we let get away from us,” Geidel said. We did have a couple of bright spots. Some of our young pitchers got some work in and were able to get some outs for us.”
Concordia’s Zach Gulley and Camaren Gause both had a hit each while Bethany got a lot production from the bottom of its batting order. The No. 7 hitter Nicholas Ceccarelli and No. 8 hitter Daniel Hordo both had three hits and two RBIs, respectively.
Even though the Bulldogs dropped their first two games of the season, Geidel is confident his team will remain upbeat and bounce back on Sunday.
“We need to come back tomorrow and keep competing,” Geidel said. “We have to improve on the things we can control like our fielding and our pitch selection at the plate. We'll take a bit to look back and reflect and be ready to go.”
The Bulldogs have another doubleheader against Bethany scheduled for Sunday with the first game starting at 12 p.m. Bethany will have a live video stream HERE. Live stats for game one can be found HERE and live stats for game two will be available HERE.
