(Ann Arbor, MI) Concordia Baseball hosted their first conference games at home this season as they welcomed Siena Heights into town on Wednesday afternoon. The Cardinals came away with a 3-1 victory in game one before a big 13-3 victory in game two.
Game 1: Concordia 3 - Siena Heights 1
Trey Acker was on the mound for the Cardinals in game one. He went the distance as he threw a complete seven inning game only allowing one run on three hits while compiling four strikeouts. This is now his second complete game of the season.
The Cardinal bats got things started quickly as Justin Kozlowski was able to bring home Matthew Dubrick in the first inning on a single to give them the early 1-0 advantage. The Saints responded quickly as a groundout in the second inning from Mac Melvin brought in a run to knot the game at 1.
The rest of the game was a pitchers duel, with two swings of the bat being the difference in this one. In the top of the fourth, Tyler Wressel sent his team leading sixth home run over the left field fence to give CUAA the lead. In the top of the fifth inning, Harrison Ryan led off by launching his first career home run over the left field wall to put the lead at 3-1. The score would stay the same for the remainder of the game as Acker held the Saints' bats at bay giving CUAA their first conference win of the year.
Game 2: Concordia 13 - Siena Heights 3
Bryon Mane got things started in game two on the bump for CUAA. He went 4.1 innings pitched allowing two runs on four hits while compiling four strikeouts. Blake Weaver came on to get the Cardinals out of a jam in the fifth inning and he was able to record both outs to keep the Saints at bay after five innings. Ryan VanSlambrouck pitched the sixth inning allowing just one run on one hit, while Dylan Kints came on to close out the run-rule win in the seventh inning for CUAA as he struck out two.
CUAA scored six runs in the first inning, doubling their runs from the entire first game. Justin Kozlowski got things started as he drove home Jake Kuhlman on a single. Tyler Wressel then doubled to score Derek Hebner. Josh Burke and Alex Piotrowski were able to put balls in play to drive home Kozlowski and Tyler Lawson which put them up 4-0. Gus Simon then singled to bring in another run before working his way around the bases to score on a passed ball making it 6-0 after one inning.
Siena Heights was able to get one back on a Gino Hutchinson single to make the score 6-1, where it would remain until the fourth inning. Burke and Simon were able to drive home two more runs on RBI singles to make the score 8-1. The Saints responded again with a run in the fifth inning before Blake Weaver came on to shut the threat down.
Derek Hebner, Kozlowski, Wressel, and Burke all drove in Matthew Dubrick, Jake Kuhlman, Alex Czyzewski, and Garrett Williams on RBI hits to give CUAA a big 12-2 advantage. A Saints sac fly made the score 12-3, before Ty Schornak walked to bring in a run making the score 13-3. Dylan Kints came on to shut the game down and give the Cardinals a big run-rule victory!
The Cardinals are back in action at home this Saturday afternoon as they welcome Lourdes into town for another WHAC doubleheader beginning at 1pm.
