(Westfield, IN) - The Concordia Cardinals baseball team was on the road this weekend traveling to Indiana to play against Shawnee State University for a four-game series against the Bears. The Cardinals came into the weekend at 4-0, while the Bears were an even 2-2.
Game 1: Concordia 9, Shawnee State 7
Game one saw Joe Tany take the mound to start the game, as he would give up five runs on two hits with two strikeouts, as he went going three innings.
Shawnee State came out right away in the top of the first, scoring all five runs that Tany would give up, on a double and a grand slam. The Cards would stay quiet until Aaron West in the fourth inning, hit his second home run of the season scoring Johnny Shields.
The Cardinal bats would explode in the fifth inning scoring on four extra-base hits as Joe Jones, Calvin Syrjala, Jordan Sherman, and West all doubled to bring home multiple runs. Ryan Kotecki would also bring home two more runs with a single. The Bears would attempt to mount a comeback in the seventh scoring twice off of one Cardinal error.
Kenneth Rozmys would pitch the final four innings, striking out a career-high seven batters while only allowing three hits.
Game 2: Shawnee State 11, Concordia 5
Tyson Kleinfelter would get the starting nod for game two of the day as he would be solid through three innings before giving up seven to start the fourth. He would strike out eight batters through the game.
The first inning saw the Cardinals strike first as Joe Jones and James (Jimmy) Wressel both singled runs home. Skipping forward to the third inning, Wressel would get his second RBI of the game, scoring Calvin Syrjala on the play.
The fourth inning would see eight runs cross the plate for the Bears off of three extra-base hits, two home runs, and a double. The Bears would add onto their attack in the fifth by scoring on a passed ball and then followed by a home run. Attempting a comeback in the sixth, the Cardinals got a run from an Aaron Brazelton sacrifice fly and a Syrjala single. Concordia would get a man on base in the seventh, but could not get him to cross the plate.
Riley O'Connell and Mackenzie Martin would combine for 3.2 innings pitched as O'Connell would allow four hits and struck out one, while Martin would allow one walk and strike one batter out.
Game 3: Concordia 5, Shawnee State 2
Alex Phillips got the starting nod for the Cardinals after going one inning and allowing one run.
The bottom of the first saw the first action of the game as Shawnee State would strike first off of a sacrifice fly out to center field. The only lead change of the game would be in the top of the second as the Cardinals would strike right back scoring twice. James (Jimmy) Wrestle would single to start the inning, and have Jake Ryan pinch-run for him, following an Aaron West walk, Jordan Sherman would hit a sacrifice in order to get runners on second and third. A passed ball and a wild pitch would follow and the Cards would take the lead.
The fourth inning would see Jarrett Batanian single and bring in Curtis Townsend. The only other Bear's run came off of an error by a Cardinal in the fifth. CUAA would add two insurance runs in the top of the seventh as Wressel and West would single and double respectively and bring in Joe Jones and Caleb Harmond.
Timothy Pomaville and Ryan Kotecki would each pitch three innings combined and give up one run in total. Pomaville would get the win, allowing one hit and striking out three batters. Kotecki would earn the first Cardinal save of the season after allowing two baserunners and striking out three himself.
Game 4: Concordia 7, Shawnee State 5
Hitting the mound for the second game of the doubleheader was Jacob Henry. He would continue to pitch three innings, allowing four hits, four runs (none earned), and strike out two batters.
The Cardinals' bats would continue right, where they left off in the first game as James (Jimmy) Wressel started the scoring with a sacrifice fly to left field. Aaron West would continue his hot streak to start the season grabbing his third home run of the early season and tallying 3 RBIs. The top of the third saw Jordan Sherman add onto the score and make it 5-0 when he singled and scored Joe Ryan.
The bottom of the third and the fourth innings saw the Bears mount a five-run comeback, singling three times to bring in four runs and then a home run to even the score at 5 apiece.
The Cardinals would not stop in the game as Johnny Shields laid down a squeeze bunt to score Ryan and reclaim the lead. The final inning saw the Cardinals run a double steal as West broke for second, at the same as Aaron Brazelton take home plate for the extra insurance run.
Three Cardinal relief pitchers would combine to pitch four innings as Logan Fleming, Jack Vrba, and Joe Jones all saw action. Fleming would earn the win in relief going two innings, allowing two hits, and striking out two. Jones pitched the final two innings, allowing two hits, striking out four batters while earning the save.
The Cardinals travel to Rio Grande, OH next weekend for another four-game series facing off against the Red Storm with doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday.
