(Hamilton, OH) Concordia Baseball opened up their 2024 season with a doubleheader against Miami-Hamilton. The Cardinals came out strong against the Harriers defeating Miami-Hamilton 11-1 in the first game and completing the sweep with a 5-2 second game.
Game 1: Concordia 11 – Miami-Hamilton 1
Bryon Mane started on the bump for Concordia in the opener and went a complete 5 innings, while only giving up 5 baserunners and just one run. Ryan VanSlambrouck and Logan Morris came in for an inning each to finish off the game for Concordia, both only allowing just one runner and no runs.
The Cardinal bats got things started early when Joe Finder plated the first run of the season with a double. Josh Burke tacked on another Concordia run when he plated Tyler Wressel in the second inning.
The Cardinals broke the game open in the third inning with five runs. Tyler Lawson brought home the first run with a single, followed by Josh Burke getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Drew Fleming then cleared the bases with a double to round out the scoring in the third.
Miami-Hamilton scored their lone run of the game with a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth, but Concordia responded immediately in the next half inning when Harrison Ryan drove in Jake Ryan. Andrew Hutchins and Alex Czyzewski each had an RBI in the seventh inning to make it an 11-1 final in favor of the Cardinals.
Game 2: Concordia 5 – Miami-Hamilton 2
Owen Johnson toed the rubber with the start for Concordia in game two. Johnson went 4 innings deep, giving up just 2 runs while earning the win. Evan Jasiak came in to close out the game, earning a two-inning save with no base runners and 4 strikeouts.
Concordia's first two runs came by way of an error in the first inning. Shortly after, the Cardinals scored what ended up being the game winning run when Justin Kozlowski plated Joe Finder with a triple.
The Harriers scraped their way back into the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third, but Jake Kuhlman put the game out of reach in the ensuing half inning when he doubled to bring home two runs for the Cardinals. The game was called after the sixth inning due to snow.
Next up for the Cardinals is a three-game series against Bob Jones on Saturday and Monday.
