(Rio Grande, OH) Concordia Baseball began the second half of their four game series this afternoon against Rio Grande. The Cardinals fell in the first game, but were able to pick up another comeback win, winning 6-5 after ten innings to claim the series victory.
Game 1: Concordia 5 – Rio Grande - 9
The Cardinals started the scoring early when Josh Burke scored Justin Kozlowski in the top of first inning on a single to right field. Starter Bryon Mane held Rio Grande scoreless for the first three innings. CUAA then scored again when Kyle Hebner brought Tyler Lawson home on a sac bunt to go up 2-0.
Rio Grande responded in a big way in the fourth inning. They were able to compile seven runs on seven hits to take a commanding 7-2 lead. The Cardinals responded in the top of the fifth with a Justin Kozlowski double to score Gus Simon. In the top of the sixth, Derek Hebner scored Harrison Ryan and Simon on a single to make the score 5-7. A single from Rio Grande's Likeiry Jimenez in the bottom of the sixth brought home two more insurance runs. Those runs were enough for Rio Grande to hold on for the win.
Game 2: Concordia 6 – Rio Grande 5
The Cardinals started off hot once again with Tyler Wressel bringing Derek Hebner home on a single in the first inning. Starter Logan Morris would then hold Rio Grande scoreless for the first two innings. In the third inning, Gus Simon was able to score on a wild pitch. The bottom of the third saw the RedStorm respond with two RBI singles from Gehrig Cordial and Beiker Fuentes to even the score at 2.
The score remained the same until the bottom of the sixth inning when Rio Grande added three runs to go up 5-2 heading into the final innings. The Cardinals would need a response similar to yesterday's night cap win in order to pull this one out as well. Big walks from Alex Piotrowski, Kyle Hebner, and Harrison Ryan loaded the bases to start the top of the seventh.
Gus Simon then reached on a fielder's choice to score Piotrowski. Jake Kuhlman followed that up with a single to score Alex Czyzewski. A big Matthew Dubrick pinch hit sac bunt brought home Simon to knot the game at five. The game would then remain that way through the ninth inning as Kenneth (Dave) Rozmys was able to limit the Rio Grande offenses' scoring chances. A squeeze bunt in the tenth inning on a pitch far outside the zone from Tyler Wressel brought home Jake Kuhlman to give the Cardinals a 6-5 lead. Blake Weaver came on in the bottom of the tenth and a 1-2-3 inning gave the Cardinals the win and the series victory!
The Cardinals are back in action at home for the first time this season on Tuesday as they welcome Goshen to Ann Arbor with the first game beginning at 1pm.
