AUBURNDALE, FLA. -- On day two of the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational, the Concordia University Chicago Cougars took down the Wartburg College Knights 11-3.
INSIDE THE BOX
- Jaime Sandoval (Oak Lawn, Ill.) had a star-studded day going two for three at the plate and secured three stolen bases on the day.
- Freshman catcher Brandon Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.) picked up his first homerun in the maroon and gold after hitting a grand slam in the fourth inning
Looking to build off of yesterday's defeat versus the University of Dubuque, the Cougars came out looking to battle. With the Knights getting ready for their last day of the invitational, they battled and jumped to a fast 3-0 lead following a three run homer in the first inning.
Looking to get back in the game, Sandoval got things moving for the Cougars off a single to right center before he stole second and put himself in scoring position. A double back out to right center from Hickman would send Sandoval home and put the Cougars on the board for the first time of the day. A sacrifice fly from
Julio Cajigas (Romeoville, Ill.) would send Hickman home and cut the deficit down to a one-run game.
Two innings later, after holding the Knights at three runs, the Cougars took to the plate again and went to work.
Christian Jacob got things moving for the Cougars after dropping a ball out in centerfield while Cajigas sent a ball to almost the exact same spot and jumped Jacob another base ahead. With bases loaded,
Tyler Dorsch (Phoenix, Ariz.) would take a walk to first and score Jacob evening the game at three a piece. With the bases loaded once again, Mahler would step to the plate and drop a grand slam over the right field fence and gave the Cougars the lead for the first time of the day.
With senior pitcher
Westin Stutzman still going strong on the mound, the Cougars held the Knights to three runs as Stutzman closed his time after six complete innings while throwing six strikeouts and only allowing five hits.
In the top of the sixth, a double down the left field line from Dorsch would send
Michael Kasik (Chandler, Ariz.) home and extend the Cougars lead to five. A few innings later, a single to left field from DH
Caleb Anderson (Plainfield, Ill.) would get the bats going again before
Tyler Krater (Phoenix, Ariz.) would smash a double to left field and put pinch runner
Garry Maynard (Oswego, Ill.) into scoring position. With Sandoval sending a ball down the right field line, Maynard would cross the plate and secure their tenth run of the day. Sandoval would secure his third stolen base of the day and put himself in scoring position. As Hickman stole second and the Wartburg catcher attempted to throw down, Sandoval took advantage and took off to home to give the Cougars their last run of the day and extend their lead to 11-3.
The Cougars will take on Buena Vista tomorrow at 10:30am in game three of the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. Coverage can be found at cucougars.com.
Gallery: (3-5-2023) Baseball vs Wartburg
