(Easley, SC) – Concordia baseball continued pool play on Thursday when the team competed in day two of the NCCAA World Series. After finishing last night's game around midnight, the 5-seeded Cardinals had a short turnaround facing No. 8 seed Toccoa Falls College in a 10am start. CUAA was able to crush 14 hits in a 10-3 win, moving to 2-1 in pool play.
The Cardinals jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the top of the 1st. Chris Lowe (JR/DeWitt, MI) reached second base on a Toccoa Falls error and was driven in on an RBI single from Blaine Milheim (SR/Eaton Rapids, MI). Preston Sherman (JR/Homer, MI) later hit an RBI single to drive in Milheim, putting CUAA up 2-0.
Jimmy McKane (JR/Saint Johns, MI) was named the starting pitcher for Concordia. McKane got out of the bottom of the 1st with three straight groundouts.
The score remained 2-0 in favor of CUAA through the next four innings. Jimmy McKane pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the 3rd to keep the Cardinals ahead. Both teams were unable to get their offense going in the 4th or 5th.
Concordia added an extra run in the top of the 6th. Blaine Milheim drew a lead-off walk, Grant Steinborn (JR/Flushing, MI) singled, and Preston Sherman drew a walk to load the bases. A sacrifice fly from Vann Acker (JR/Eaton Rapids, MI) scored Milheim to extend the CUAA lead to 3-0.
Concordia center fielder Matthew Botti (JR/Decatur, MI) reached over the fence to rob a potential Toccoa Falls home run in the bottom of the 6th. Botti was able to pull in another deep hit ball to keep it in the field, but Toccoa Falls scored 3 runs on the play to tie the game.
The Cardinals scored 5 runs on 7 hits in the top of the 7th to reclaim the lead. Justin Mercer (SR/Howell, MI) led off with a single, and an RBI single from Chris Lowe drove in pinch runner Jake Moyer (FR/Hartland, Mi). Lowe reached third base on a passed ball, and a sacrifice fly from Blaine Milheim drove in the run. Later in the inning, an error by Toccoa Falls' catcher on an Ethan Vosburg (SR/Climax, MI) bunt allowed Grant Steinborn to score. Vann Acker finished off the scoring with a 2-RBI single, driving in Vosburg and RJ Bortle (JR/Hartland, MI).
Ryan Abenth (SO/Saginaw, MI) came on to pitch after the first out in the bottom of the 7th, striking out a batter and using a flyout to end the inning. The Cardinals tacked on another run in the 8th as Chris Lowe stole home. Brendan Lyons (JR/Woodhaven, MI) entered at pitcher in the bottom of the 8th and struck out two batters.
Concordia added one last run when Justin Mercer used an RBI double to drive in Matthew Botti. Timothy Pomaville (FR/Warren, MI) pitched for the Cardinals in the 9th and the final Toccoa Falls batter struck out looking to end the game.
The Cardinals improve to 2-1 in pool play after the win. The team will look to clinch a spot in the semifinals when they face #9 seed Ecclesia College tomorrow (May 24) at 1:00pm.
