(Fort Wayne, IN) – Concordia baseball entered WHAC tournament play on Friday afternoon when they traveled to Indiana Tech to compete in pod one. The Cardinals received the #4 seed in the tournament and competed against #5 seed University of Northwestern Ohio in the first round, falling 7-5 in extra innings. CUAA then faced off against #1 seed Indiana Tech, threatening to pull the upset but dropping a tight game 3-1.

Game 1 – UNOH 7, CUAA 5 (10 innings)

Jacob Clark (SR/Pinckney, MI) started game 1 on the mound for the Cardinals, striking out 7 batters in 6.2 innings. Concordia took an early lead with 2 runs in the 1^st. Chris Lowe (JR/DeWitt, MI) scored on a passed ball and Grant Steinborn (JR/Flushing, MI) hit an RBI single scoring Blaine Milheim (SR/Eaton Rapids, MI).

Neither team scored from the 2^nd through 4^th innings. The Cardinals had a promising opportunity with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 4^th, but UNOH got out of the inning allowing no runs.

Jacob Clark continued to pitch well, allowing just 2 hits in the first 5 innings. Concordia scored in the bottom of the 5^th to take a 3-0 lead. Chris Lowe hit a lead-off single and scored later in the inning on a throwing error.

UNOH broke the shutout with a run in the 6^th. Alex Philips came on to pitch for Concordia in the top of the 7^th and recorded a strikeout for the final out of the inning. The Cardinals scored a run in the bottom of the 7^th as Blaine Milheim drilled a deep double scoring Justin Mercer (SR/Howell, MI).

UNOH stormed back with 4 runs in the top of the 8^th, taking a 5-4 lead off a 3-run homer. Kane Bourbina (JR/Saginaw, MI) came on to pitch and was able to secure the last out of the inning. Concordia tied the game 5-5 after Ethan Vosburg (SR/Climax, MI) hit an RBI single to drive in RJ Bortle (JR/Hartland, MI).

Tyson Kleinfelter (FR/Perrysburg, OH) came on to pitch for the last out in the top of the 9^th, striking out the last batter. Chris Lowe led off the bottom of the 9^th with a single and reached second off a sacrifice bunt from Blaine Milheim, but the Cardinals left 2 men on base with no runs.

The game headed to extra innings and UNOH scored 2 runs in the top of the 10^th. Concordia was unable to score in the 10^th and fell 7-5.

Game 2 – Indiana Tech 3, CUAA 1

After falling to UNOH, the Cardinals faced #1 seed Indiana Tech in the second match of the day. Grant Steinborn received the start on the mound in game 2.

The game remained scoreless through the first 2 innings. Indiana Tech scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 3^rd to go up 2-0.

Jimmy McKane (JR/Saint Johns, MI) came in to pitch midway through the 4^th inning. Indiana Tech added another run in the 5^th to take a 3-0 lead.

The Cardinals got on the board in the top of the 6^th when Chris Lowe crushed a solo home run. Timothy Pomaville (FR/Warren, MI) came in to pitch in the bottom of the 7^th. Maxwell Hecht (FR/Holland, MI) made a solid defensive play to end the inning, catching a line drive and throwing to second base to complete the double play.

Brendan Lyons (JR/Woodhaven, MI) entered on the mound for the Cardinals in the 8^th inning. The game remained 3-1 heading to the 9^th.

The Concordia bats finally came alive in the top of the 9^th as Chris Lowe and Blaine Milheim singled to get on base. Pinch hitter Kainan Bayn (FR/Zeeland, MI) was able to advance the runners to second and third base with a sacrifice. Pinch hitter Jordan Sherman (FR/Homer, MI) drew a walk to load the bases, but Indiana Tech was able to secure the final out to end the game and eliminate CUAA.

The Cardinals will now wait to learn of their post-season fate as a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). The Cardinals are currently ranked second in the NCCAA with the NCCAA World Series is set to take place May 22nd - May 25th in Easley, South Carolina.