Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 April 5, 2014 - The Concordia Cougar baseball team emerged from today's doubleheader with a 16-2 record and a 12-game winning streak. But even fans wearing the rosiest-colored of glasses would be hard-pressed to say that it's been an easy road.
At home against Rockford University, the Cougars had to contend with two tough opposing starters, a plethora of staranded base runners, and a rocky first inning in game two in which CUC fell behind 5-0. But none of these could prevent the Cougars from sweeping the Regents by 2-0 and 8-5 scores.
Game one featured a classic pitchers' duel between CUC's Kurt Kempema (Schaumburg, IL/H.S.) and RU's Kyle Pisano. Kempema mowed down the Regents, facing just one batter over the minimum through the first six innings. Pisano kept the Cougars off the board through six, although he had to escape bases-loaded situations in the fifth and sixth innings. Kempema got out of a mini-jam in the seventh. After the first two men were retired, Rockford put two men aboard on a single and infield error. However, Kempema got Matt Grimes swinging on a full-count pitch to keep the game scoreless momentarily.
The Cougars broke through in their half of the inning. A walk, error and single quickly loaded the bases. Dan Eichholzer (Elwood, IL/Joliet West), moved into the cleanup spot today, fell behind 0-2 but lined the next pitch into leftfield for the first run of the game. The Regents then went to the bullpen and got the next two outs, but pinch-hitter Brent Spohr (Ingleside, IL/Grant Community) drew a walk to force in an important insurance run. Rockford looked to come back in the eighth as they put their leadoff man aboard. But a fine diving stop by Rich Santarelli (Homer Glen, IL/Chicago Christian) started a 4-6-3 double play on the next batter. Kempema then got a comebacker for the third out, finishing a great four-hit stint over eight innings. Steve Cox (Villa Park, IL/Willowbrook) pitched a 1-2-3 ninth with one strikeout, putting a lid on the Cougars' first-game victory. Concordia's euphoric mood turned sour in the first inning of game two as some uncharacteristically sloppy play led to Rockford scoring five unearned runs off of C.J. Selner (Milwaukee, WI/Milwaukee Lutheran). The Cougars committed three errors in the inning, and the Regents plated all of their runs after two outs. Regents' starter Michael Kiviranta silenced the Cougars over the first three innings, but CUC broke through in the fourth. Eichholzer singled through the left side, and Colin Bethran (Schaumburg, IL/H.S.) drew a one-out walk. Will Polley (River Forest, IL/Oak Park-River Forest) then cracked a double to the gap in left-center. Eichholzer scored, but Bethran was caught at the plate on a blurry-fast relay. The Cougars were back on the attack again in the fifth. With two out and a man aboard, an error opened the door for CUC to step through. Eichholzer's single to right and Bethran's infield single would score the runs and pull the Cougars within 5-3.
The sixth inning belonged entirely to CUC freshman Doug Matthews (Crest Hill, IL/Lockport Township). In the top of the inning, a single by Chris Senn threatened to score Jake McKnight from second base. However, Matthews' laser beam throw from leftfield was in plenty of time to retire the runner for the third out. Matthews then came up in the bottom of the inning after Will Randerson (Combined Locks, WI/Kimberly) had bunted for a base hit. Matthews worked a full count while fouling off a couple of pitches deep down the line. Finally, on the eighth pitch of the at-bat, Matthews got the pitch he liked and drilled it high and deep to left. The outfielder watched it sail over the fence for a game-tying two-run homer, Matthews' second of the year.
Concordia missed out on a bases-loaded opportunity in the seventh, but they would not faili in the eighth. One-out singles by Kyle Huber (Chicago, IL/Lane Tech), Bethran and Spohr loaded the bases. Rockford then went to a lefty reliever to face Randerson, but the Cougars' catcher foiled the strategy by drawing a five-pitch walk to force in the go-ahead run. Dan Lo Dolce (Northlake, IL/Walther Lutheran) then provided some breathing room as he smacked a two-run single to right, plating Bethran and pinch-runner Brendan Klein (St. Charles, MO/Lutheran St. Charles). Cox returned to the mound in the ninth and recorded his second save of the day, sixth of the season. The Regents put a man on base with two out, but Cox fanned Matt Grimes for the final out.
Selner recovered from the rough first inning and pitched eight strong in improving his record to 3-1. The lefthander struck out four and walked one.
The Cougars return to action Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader against Marian University. The games have been relocated to Woodside Sports Complex in Mauston, Wisconsin.
