(Fairborn, OH) – Concordia baseball faced off against Goshen on Saturday afternoon in a pair of 7-inning non-conference games. The Cardinals entered 2-2 overall while the doubleheader counted as Goshen's season opener. CUAA swept both games, winning 12-1 and 4-0 to bring home another two wins.

Game 1 – CUAA 12, Goshen 1

Jimmy McKane (JR/Saint Johns, MI) started on the mound for the Cardinals in game one, striking out 6 batters. Goshen struck first with a run in the top of the 1^st, but Concordia responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Preston Sherman (JR/Homer, MI) hit a 2-RBI double, scoring Ethan Vosburg (SR/Climax, MI) and Blaine Milheim (SR/Eaton Rapids, MI), and Sherman scored on a Grant Steinborn (JR/Flushing, MI) single.

The Cardinals extended their lead in the 2^nd inning after a 2-run homer from Blaine Milheim made the score 5-2. Jimmy McKane added two more strikeouts between the 3^rd and 4^th innings.

The Concordia bats continued to be productive with five more runs in the bottom of the 4^th. Blaine Milheim drew a walk with the bases loaded, scoring Matthew Botti (JR/Decatur, MI). An error allowed Ethan Vosburg and Vann Acker (JR/Eaton Rapids, MI) to reach home, and a 2-RBI single from Grant Steinborn scored Preston Sherman and Blaine Milheim. CUAA led 10-2 after the 4^th.

Kane Bourbina (JR/Saginaw, MI) came in to pitch for Concordia in the 5^th inning, dispatching all three batters he faced. The Cardinals tacked on another run in the bottom of the 5^th when Jordan Sherman (FR/Homer, MI) singled scoring Lucas McNinch (SO/Belding, MI).

Timothy Pomaville (FR/Warren, MI) came in to pitch in the 6^th for Concordia, finishing off the last 2 batters of the inning. CUAA added one more run as Johnny Shields (FR/Howell, MI) doubled and was driven in on a sacrifice by Dylan Steinke (JR/Hillman, MI). Pitcher Greg Barbuto secured the final two outs in the 7^th inning, striking out one batter, and Concordia claimed the 12-1 win.

Game 2 – CUAA 4, Goshen 0

Grant Steinborn received the start at pitcher for Concordia, scattering 5 hits and allowing no runs in 5 innings of work. The Cardinals started off with 3 runs in the bottom of the 1^st. Blaine Milheim hit an RBI single which drove in Vann Acker, Ethan Vosburg scored on an error, and Preston Sherman used an RBI groundout to score Milheim.

Neither team scored from the 2^nd through the 4^th inning. The Cardinals turned double plays in the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th innings to maintain their shutout.

Concordia added one more run in the bottom of the 5^th. Vann Acker got on base with a double and was driven in on a single from Ethan Vosburg. CUAA led 4-0 after the 5^th.

Tyson Kleinfelter (FR/Perrysburg, OH) came in to pitch for the Cardinals in the 6^th inning. Kleinfelter was able to finish out the last 2 innings of the game, allowing no hits and recording 2 strikeouts. Concordia's lead held up and the Cardinals took home a pair of victories.

Concordia improves to 4-2 with the pair of non-conference wins. The team will travel to Bluefield on February 23 and 24, playing two 7-inning games each day. The first pitch of each doubleheader is scheduled for 1pm on both days.