(Ann Arbor, MI) Concordia Baseball hosted Cornerstone Wednesday afternoon for a WHAC doubleheader. The Cardinals dropped game one, but walked off the second game in extra innings to split the two-game series.
Game 1: Concordia 3, Cornerstone 7
Timothy Pomaville started on the mound for Concordia and went 6 innings, giving up 7 hits and 6 runs, with only 4 being earned. He struck out 8 batters on the day.
The Golden Eagles opened up scoring with a lead off home run. They later added a second run after a player who reached on a dropped third strike was brought home on a single to center.
Concordia responded back with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Jarrett Batanian got things started with a sacrifice bunt to score Caleb Harmond. It was then Aaron West who knocked a single to left field to score two runs and give the Cards the lead.
Cornerstone stormed back in the top of the sixth when a single and then an error in right field, followed by a two-run homer to take them from down a run to up three.
Evan Jasiak came in to pitch the seventh inning for the Cardinals, and game up a home run to give Cornerstone a four-run lead. Jasiak would go on to load the bases, but pitched his way out of the jam by striking out a pair of runners.
The Cardinals loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Justin Kozlowski grounded into a game ending double play to close out the game.
Game 2: Concordia 7, Cornerstone 6 (11 Innings)
Bryon Mane started on the hill for the Cardinals and went 3 innings, giving up 6 earned runs. He struck out 2 in the outing.
James (Jimmy) Wressel and Jordan Sherman each singled a run home in the bottom of the first to give Concordia the early two-run lead.
Cornerstone responded with three runs a half inning later with a two-run homer and RBI single to take the lead.
Kyle Hebner evened things back up when he drove in Taishin Matsushita in the second. Aaron West then gave the Cards the lead again when he brought Hebner home.
The Golden Eagles responded immediately with an RBI double and two-run shot to retake a two-score advantage.
Things slowed down for both teams at the plate, as Trey Acker came in to pitch five and a third scoreless innings in relief for the Cards. He struck out 4 while only allowing 5 baserunners.
Taisei Yamada came as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the eighth and brought home Caleb Harmond to bring the Cardinals within one. It was then James (Jimmy) Wressel who knocked one over the fence in left field to send the game to extras.
Drew Fleming and Evan Jasiak came in to pitch after Acker's work on the mound. Jasiak would go on to earn the win.
In the bottom of the eleventh inning, it was Kyle Hebner who launched a solo home run to left field to walk off the game for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals will be at Rochester on Saturday, April 15th, for a doubleheader starting at 1:00 PM.
