(Crestview Hills, KY) – Concordia baseball traveled to Thomas More for a 4-game weekend series of 7-inning games on Saturday and Sunday.  The Cardinals came in 7-6 overall while the Saints entered 6-9 on the year.  CUAA improved their record with victories in all four games on the weekend.

Game 1 – CUAA 8, TM 2

Joe Tany started on the mound in game 1, pitching 5.1 innings.  Thomas More scored first in the 2^nd inning to go up 1-0.  Concordia took the lead with 2 runs in the 4^th when Calvin Syrjala hit an RBI triple to score Dylan Steinke and Chris Lowe used an RBI groundout to drive in Syrjala.

Joe Tany pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the 5^th.  Thomas More tied the game in the 6^th to knot things up 2-2, but the Cardinals exploded with 6 runs in the 7^th.  Jordan Sherman hit a 2-RBI bases-loaded single, Caleb Chamberlain scored on an error, Calvin Syrjala hit an RBI double, and Chris Lowe hit an RBI sacrifice fly.

Brandon Decker finished the game at pitcher, securing the final outs in the 7^th to claim the 8-2 win.

Game 2 – CUAA 6, TM 4

Timothy Pomaville started game 2 on the mound, making 4 strikeouts in 3 innings.  Calvin Syrjala used an RBI single to score Chris Lowe in the top of the 1^st.  The Saints tied the game in the bottom half of the inning.  Vann Acker hit an RBI double in the 2^nd to score Preston Sherman, but the Saints again tied the game in the bottom half.

Thomas More took a 3-2 lead after the 3^rd inning, but a solo home run from Adam Purdy tied the game in the 4^th.  Elijah Abenth came in to pitch in the bottom of the 4^th, making 2 strikeouts in the bottom of the 5^th.

The Saints went up 4-3 after the 6^th, but once again the Cardinals came back late with a 3-run 7^th inning.  Chris Lowe hit an RBI single, Jimmy Wressel walked with the bases loaded, and Jarrett Batanian drew a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch.  Logan Fleming finished the game on the mound to secure the 6-4 win.

Game 3 – CUAA 5, TM 1

Grant Steinborn pitched a complete game in the third contest, making 5 strikeouts in 7 innings.  Concordia started a 4-run 1^st inning when Steinborn hit an RBI single to score Chris Lowe.  Joe Jones scored on a wild pitch, Adam Purdy hit a sacrifice fly, and Preston Sherman hit an RBI single.

Thomas More hit a solo home run in the 2^nd, but the Cardinals countered in the 3^rd with an RBI single from Jarrett Batanian.  The remainder of the game would be scoreless and Concordia secured the 5-1 win.

Game 4 – CUAA 6, TM 4 (9 innings)

Tyson Kleinfelter pitched a complete game in the final match, racking up 11 strikeouts in 9 innings.  Concordia struck first with a 2-RBI single by Jimmy Wressel that scored Jarrett Batanian and Grant Steinborn.  Thomas More responded with one run in the 3^rd.

CUAA added 2 more runs in the 4^th with a sacrifice fly by Jarrett Batanian and Grant Steinborn reaching home on a wild pitch.  No more runs were scored until the 7^th when Thomas More tied the game 4-4 with a 3-run inning.

In the 9^th inning, Jarrett Batanian continued his solid day with a solo home run and Jimmy Wressel added an RBI double.  Tyson Kleinfelter secured three strikeouts in the bottom of the 9^th to clinch the 6-4 win.

Concordia will host their conference opener on Saturday, March 20 in a doubleheader vs Cleary.  The first game starts at 1pm.