(Spring Arbor, MI) – Concordia baseball went on the road to face Spring Arbor on a chilly Wednesday afternoon. The Cardinals entered the non-conference doubleheader with a 27-13 overall record while the Cougars came in 18-22. CUAA cruised to a 9-3 win in game 1 and outlasted Spring Arbor in extra innings to take game 2 4-3.
Game 1 – CUAA 9, SAU 3
Grant Steinborn started on the mound in game 1. The Cardinals wasted no time scoring 3 runs in the 1st inning. Grant Steinborn helped his own cause with a 2-RBI bases-loaded single, scoring Adam Purdy and Dylan Steinke. Chris Lowe added an RBI groundout to drive in RJ Bortle for a 3-0 lead.
Concordia turned a double play to end the bottom of the 1st. The Cardinals added another run in the 3rd when Calvin Syrjala hit an RBI single to score RJ Bortle.
Spring Arbor broke the shutout with a run in the 4th, but Concordia countered in the top of the 5th when Grant Steinborn knocked an RBI single to drive in Jarrett Batanian.
CUAA further extended their lead with 4 runs in the 6th. Chris Lowe opened scoring with an RBI double to drive in Calvin Syrjala. Lowe reached home on a wild pitch and Dylan Steinke tacked on a 2-RBI single to score Jordan Sherman and Adam Purdy. Concordia led 9-1 after the top of the inning.
Brothers Elijah Abenth and Ryan Abenth combined to finish the game on the mound for the Cardinals. While Spring Arbor scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 6th, Ryan Abenth was able to strand 2 baserunners in the 7th to close out the game.
Game 2 – CUAA 4, SAU 3 (10 innings)
Jacob Henry pitched a complete game to finish the doubleheader, racking up 9 strikeouts in 10 innings. Spring Arbor scored first with one run in the bottom of the 1st inning.
The game settled into a pitchers' duel with both teams struggling to get baserunners on board. The Cardinals tied the game in the 5th inning when a balk by the Spring Arbor pitcher advanced Caleb Chamberlain to home base.
Concordia threatened with the bases loaded in the 6th but was unable to get a runner home. Jacob Henry stranded 2 runners in the 7th inning, sending the game to extra innings.
Henry continued to be solid on the mound, pitching out of a bases-loaded jam in the 9th with a strikeout and a popout to extend the game. The Concordia bats finally broke through with 3 runs in the 10th. Joe Jones hit the go-ahead RBI single to score Kyle Hebner. Jarrett Batanian had an RBI double to drive in Jordan Sherman and then later reached home on an error.
Jacob Henry finished the bottom of the 10th by inducing three straight groundouts to secure the sweep.
Concordia will return to action on Saturday, April 24 when they travel to rival Siena Heights for a doubleheader. First pitch is at 1pm.