(Grand Rapids, MI) – Concordia baseball traveled west to Aquinas on Sunday afternoon to compete in a WHAC conference doubleheader.  The Cardinals came in with a 22-11 record (8-2 WHAC) while the Saints entered 16-14 overall (1-5 WHAC).  CUAA came away with a pair of victories on the day, earning a 6-2 win in game 1 and using a potent offense for a 14-3 win in game 2.

Game 1 – CUAA 6, AQ 2

Grant Steinborn pitched a complete game in the first match, making 5 strikeouts.  Concordia went ahead early with a run in the top of the 1^st.  Adam Purdy led off with a double and eventually scored off a Victor Diaz RBI single.  Grant Steinborn induced three groundouts in a row to get out of the bottom of the 1^st.

Neither team scored again until the Cardinals plated 3 runs in the top of the 4^th.  Preston Sherman hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded, scoring his brother Jordan Sherman.  RJ Bortle then hit a 2-RBI double to right center, driving in Chris Lowe and Calvin Syrjala.  Aquinas broke the shutout with a run in the bottom of the 4^th.

Concordia countered with a run in the 5^th when Grant Steinborn hit an RBI single to score Dylan Steinke.  After a lead-off double from Victor Diaz in the 7^th, Steinborn converted again with an RBI single to drive in Diaz for a 6-1 lead.

Aquinas was able to add a run in the bottom of the 9^th, but Grant Steinborn secured a strikeout to finish off the game and secure the win.

Game 2 – CUAA 14, AQ 3

Brendan Lyons started game 2 on the mound, pitching for 4 innings.  After a scoreless 1^st inning, Aquinas struck first with 2 runs in the bottom of the 2^nd.

Concordia broke the shutout in the 4^th when Jimmy Wressel hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly on a foul ball to right field that allowed Chris Lowe to score.  However, a solo home run from Aquinas put the Saints back ahead by 2 runs.

Concordia surged into the lead with a 6-run 5^th inning.  Victor Diaz started the scoring with a 2-RBI single that drove in RJ Bortle and Vann Acker.  Jimmy Wressel delivered with the bases loaded again with an RBI single to score Diaz.  Grant Steinborn also reached home on Wressel's hit after the throw to second base.  Finally, Preston Sherman then hit a 2-RBI single to drive in Wressel and Calvin Syrjala for a 7-3 CUAA lead.

Brandon Decker came in to pitch in the 5^th inning.  The Cardinals tacked on 4 more runs in the 7^th inning to extend their lead.  RJ Bortle hit a 2-RBI single that drove in Vann Acker and Calvin Syrjala.  Adam Purdy then knocked an RBI single that scored Kyle Hebner.  Purdy eventually scored on a fielder's choice situation, pushing Concordia' lead up to 11-3.

The Cardinals continued to hold Aquinas on defense with Mack Martin pitching the 8^th inning.  Concordia added 3 more insurance runs in the 9^th.  Curtis Townsend drew a bases-loaded walk to force Calvin Syrjala home.  Dylan Steinke used a sacrifice fly to score RJ Bortle.  Chris Lowe reached home later in the inning on a fielder's choice, giving CUAA a 14-3 advantage.

Kenneth Rozmys finished the game at pitcher in the bottom of the 9^th, getting out of a bases-loaded jam to clinch the series sweep.

Concordia will play again tomorrow at Cornerstone in another WHAC doubleheader.  First pitch is set for 12pm.