April 26, 2012 - The Concordia Cougars traveled to Kenosha this evening to take on head coach Adam Smith's alma mater, Carthage College. The two teams engaged in a classic pitchers' battle, but while Cougar freshman Kurt Kempema (Schaumburg, IL/H.S.) was outstanding on the mound. the Redmen's Jeremy Salzman and Mitch Lochen were a bit better, Two unearned runs were the difference in the game as Carthage took the 2-0 non-conference victory.

Each team managed just one hit through the first two innings but both threatened in the third. Brenden Schulz (Kenosha, WI/Bradford) drew a one-out walk, and singles by Nick Skala (Long Grove, IL/St. Viator) and Anthony Even (Franklin Park, IL/West Leyden) loaded the bases. However, Salzman retired Shawn Miller (Pleasant Prairie, WI/Tremper) on a foul pop to first base and Cam Stephens (Rosemont, IL/East Leyden) on a fly to right.

The Redmen threatened when Drew Bailey hit a one-out double just inside the rightfield line. But Kempema got Tyler Eickmeyer on a lineout to right and Joey Aiello on a pop to short to keep the game scoreless.

Concordia's best scoring chance came in the fifth. Robert Frampton (North Riverside, IL/Riverside-Brookfield) beat out a bunt single and was sacrificed to second. Frampton then stole third on Salzman's delivery to Skala. But Salzman came back to fan Skala. Even followed with a soft liner to short to keep the game 0-0 through 4 1/2 innings.

Kempema and Salzman continued to match goose eggs until the bottom of the seventh. Tyler Wensman led off, and his grounder to shortstop was thrown in the dirt by Even allowing Wensman to reach second. He was sacrificed to third, and pinch-hitter Mike Wasche took advantage of the drawn-in infield with a first pitch single up the middle for the game's first run. Bailey then singled Wasche to third. bringing Kempema's day to an end. Kevin Pawell (Kenosha, WI/Bradford) entered the game, and Eickmeyer hit his first pitch to leftfield for a sacrifice fly and an insurance run for the hosts.

The Cougars made a final effort with two out in the ninth. Schulz singled up the middle, and Skala reached base as his grounder was muffed by the third baseman. But reliever Mitch Lochen got Even to swing at the first pitch and pop up to the second baseman to end the game.

Kempema took the loss despite giving up no earned runs over 6 1/3 innings. The southpaw allowed six hits and one walk while fanning three. Salzman held the Cougars to five hits over seven innings with three strikeouts and two walks. Lochen pitched the final two innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out two.

Concordia (25-9) will host Edgewood College on Saturday in Northern Athletics Conference action.