Baseball 3/8/2012 9:36:00 PM Jim Egan, Sports Information Director

High Five for Cougar Baseball in Second Win Against Coe

March 8, 2012 - Quality pitching and timely hitting continue to be a winning formula for the Concordia-Chicago baseball team in their season-opening trip to Arizona. Today, the Cougars posted their second victory in four days over 25th-ranked Coe College, a 5-3 win that moved Concordia to 5-0 on the season.

"To beat a team like Coe twice is very exciting," said Concordia head coach Adam Smith. "I couldn't be any prouder of our guys for being ready for this challenge and for getting the job done."

The game began with a mound matchup of Brenden Schulz (Kenosha, WI/Bradford) for Concordia and Phil Richmond for Coe. Schulz worked out of a mini-jam in the first inning, stranding a runner on second by getting a strikeout and groundout. However, the Kohawks touched Schulz for two runs in the second. A leadoff walk and an infield error started the trouble. J.D. Hunter singled to score the first riun and, one out later, Brennan Melloy singled between third and short to put Coe on top 2-0.

Richmond kept the Cougar hitters off-balance for part of the game through an effectively wild performance. He walked Dan Eichholzer (Elwood, IL/Joliet Township) and hit Robert Weis (Oak Creek, WI/H.S.), the first of four hit batters on the day, to begin the first. However, Richmond wriggled out of the jam with two strikeouts and a grounder to third.

The Kohawks' hurler was not so fortunate in the second. Thomas Gier (Fox Lake, IL/Grant) drew a leadoff walk, and Rob Fioravanti (Evergreen Park, IL/H.S.) delivered the Cougars' first hit of the game, a single to left. An error by the second baseman compounded Coe's troubles, filling the sacks with nobody out. Richmond got Steve Zubrzycki (McHenry, IL/Marian Central Catholic) to line to short center with the runners holding. But Eichholzer delivered one of the Cougars' big hits for the game, a line shot to deep center that got down and rolled all the way to the fence. Eichholzer motored all the way to third as all runners scored to put Concordia in the lead 3-2.

Schulz retired the side in order in the third, but the Kohawks manufactured a run in the fourth. Tim Kayser led off with a single and was sacrificed to second. He moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Hunter's groundout to shortstop.

The Cougars continued to put runners on base against Richmond but were unable to deliver any more run-scoring hits until the sixth. Eichholzer drew Richmond's sixth free pass of the day to start things off. Weis then lay down a bunt past the pitcher. The charging first baseman got to the ball but was unable to make a play as Weis beat it out for a hit. Nick Skala (Long Grove, IL/St. Viator) then looked to catch the infielders playing back as he put a bunt down. While unable to place it for a hit, Skala's bunt was effective enough to move both runners into scoring position.

Cam Stephens (Rosemont, IL/East Leyden) then stepped to the plate and knocked out Concordia's second big hit of the game, a line shot into right-center. Eichholzer and Weis both scored as the Cougars regained the lead.

From there, Concordia's pitching took over. Schulz closed out his seven-inning stint by getting all three outs in the seventh on ground balls. Sophomore Dan Kluss (Niles, IL/Niles West) relieved Schulz in the eighth and earned the save, allowing just one hit and one walk over the final two innings.

"I thought that Brenden was lights out today, and Dan did a great job in a little different role today," said Smith. "Our pitching has certainly been the story down here, and (pitching coach) Brandon Townsend has done a great job working with our staff."

The Cougars will enjoy a day off on Friday before returning to Snedigar Sportsplex on Saturday for a doubleheader against the University of Wisconsin/LaCrosse.

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Players Mentioned

#12 Rob Fioravanti: 1B/OF; 6' 2"; Senior

#55 Brenden Schulz: P/OF; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#99 Nick Skala: C; 6' 2"; Senior

#24 Cam Stephens: OF; 5' 9"; Senior

#15 Robert Weis: SS; 5' 10"; Senior

#32 Dan Eichholzer: OF; 6' 1"; Senior

#6 Thomas Gier: 1B/DH; 6' 0"; Senior

#18 Dan Kluss: P; 6' 1"; Senior

#1 Steve Zubrzycki: 3B; 5' 10"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#12 Rob Fioravanti
: 6' 2"; Senior
: 1B/OF

#55 Brenden Schulz
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: P/OF

#99 Nick Skala
: 6' 2"; Senior
: C

#24 Cam Stephens
: 5' 9"; Senior
: OF

#15 Robert Weis
: 5' 10"; Senior
: SS

#32 Dan Eichholzer
: 6' 1"; Senior
: OF

#6 Thomas Gier
: 6' 0"; Senior
: 1B/DH

#18 Dan Kluss
: 6' 1"; Senior
: P

#1 Steve Zubrzycki
: 5' 10"; Junior
: 3B