(Easley, SC) – Concordia baseball competed in day 3 of the NCCAA World Series on Friday afternoon. The Cardinals completed pool play with a 12-2 win against #9 seed Ecclesia College, scoring 12 runs on 17 hits. CUAA finished 3-1 in pool A and earned the second spot, setting up a semifinal match with pool B winner and #7 seed College of the Ozarks. The Cardinals went on to crush 14 hits in a 17-4 win, earning a spot versus #3 seed Warner in the championship game on Saturday at 1:00pm.
Game 1 – #5 CUAA 12, #9 Ecclesia 2 (7 innings)
Concordia started off quickly with a run in the 1st. Justin Mercer (SR/Howell, MI) led off the inning with a bunt single, and Chris Lowe (JR/DeWitt, MI) and Blaine Milheim (SR/Eaton Rapids, MI) sacrificed pinch runner Jake Moyer (FR/Hartland, Mi) to third base. An RBI single from Grant Steinborn (JR/Flushing, MI) scored Moyer to give the Cardinals the early lead. Steinborn also started at pitcher for CUAA, striking out 2 batters in 3 innings.
The Cardinals extended their lead with 3 runs in the 2nd. Ethan Vosburg (SR/Climax, MI), Vann Acker (JR/Eaton Rapids, MI) and RJ Bortle (JR/Hartland, MI) loaded the bases with singles. A sacrifice fly from Jordan Sherman (FR/Homer, MI) scored Vosburg, and a 2-RBI double from Chris Lowe scored Bortle and Acker.
The Concordia bats exploded for 6 runs in the top of the 3rd. After Preston Sherman (JR/Homer, MI) drew a walk and Ethan Vosburg was hit by a pitch, Vann Acker crushed a 3-run homer to clear the bases. RJ Bortle reached on a bunt single and Preston Sherman then hit a 2-run homer. Later in the inning, a sacrifice fly from Blaine Milheim scored Jake Moyer to give CUAA a 10-0 lead.
Ecclesia broke the shutout with 2 runs in the bottom of the 3rd. Brendan Lyons (JR/Woodhaven, MI) came on to pitch in the bottom of the 4th. The game remained 10-2 in favor of Concordia through 6 innings.
The Cardinals scored 2 critical runs in the top of the 7th. Blaine Milheim drew a walk, stole second, and scored on an RBI single from Grant Steinborn. RJ Bortle later hit an RBI single which scored pinch runner Johnny Shields (FR/Howell, MI) to put CUAA up 12-2.
With Concordia ahead by 10 runs, the team needed just 3 outs in the 7th to end the game. The Cardinal defense turned a double play and a groundout ended the game, securing a spot for CUAA in the semifinals.
Game 2 – #5 CUAA 17, #7 College of the Ozarks 4
Once again, Concordia jumped out to a quick start with 2 runs in the top of the 1st. Singles from Chris Lowe and Grant Steinborn put runners at the corners, and a 2-RBI double from Preston Sherman scored Lowe and pinch runner Johnny Shields.
Grant Steinborn started at pitcher for the second time on the day, striking out 6 batters. College of the Ozarks stormed back with 3 runs in the bottom of the 1st to take a 3-2 lead. The Cardinals tied the game in the top of the 2nd after Vann Acker led off with a single. Acker stole second, reached third on an error, and made it home on a close play at the plate after a passed ball.
Concordia scored 3 runs in the 3rd to reclaim the lead. A sacrifice fly from Preston Sherman scored Blaine Milheim, and a well-placed bunt from Vann Acker scored pinch runner Johnny Shields. Jordan Sherman hit an RBI single scoring Acker and CUAA led 6-3 after the top of the 3rd.
Grant Steinborn struck out 3 batters combined in the 3rd and 4th innings. Concordia added 3 more runs in the 5th, starting with Steinborn helping his own cause with a solo home run. Jordan Sherman later hit a 2-RBI double to drive in RJ Bortle and Ethan Vosburg.
The Cardinals tacked on 1 more run in the 6th to go up 10-3. Blaine Milheim singled to get on base, stole second and third, and eventually reached home after a wild pitch. College of the Ozarks answered with a solo home run in the bottom of the 6th, but Grant Steinborn struck out the last 2 batters to limit the damage.
Concordia continued to wear down College of the Ozarks, making a 2-out rally in the 7th to score 6 runs. Ethan Vosburg scored on a balk, and both Vann Acker and pinch runner Jake Moyer scored on throwing errors. Grant Steinborn smashed a 3-run homer and CUAA led 16-4 after the top of the 7th.
Adam Willinger (SR/Flat Rock, MI) came on to pitch in the 8th. Concordia added one more run in the top of the 9th as Johnny Shields singled and Jake Moyer hit an RBI triple to score the run. Gregory Barbuto (SR/Oakville, ON) entered at pitcher in the 9th and secured the last three outs to finish the game.
The Cardinals will now face #3 seed Warner in the NCCAA World Series championship game on Saturday, May 25 at 1:00pm.
