Gameday Recap

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (3/2/07)--By the time Concordia and No.16-ranked Augustana (Ill.) had finished there nine-ining game there were 31 runs scored, 32 hits and nine mutliple-run innings. Yes, the wind was blowing out at the Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Fla.

Unfortunately for the Cobbers they came out on the losing end of an 18-13 slugfest against the nationally-ranked Vikings. The loss is the third straight for CC and drops their Florida trip record to 1-4. Augustana, who was ranked in a tie for 16th place in the American Baseball Coaches Association preseason Division III poll, ups their mark to 6-1.

For the first time since they arrived in Florida, Concordia did not allow a run in the opening inning. In fact, the Cobbers turned the tables and posted three runs in the bottom of the first inning on a pair of hits and a Viking error.

CC starting pitcher Scott Schumacher made the 3-0 lead hold up until the top of the fourth inning. In the first three frames, Schumacher gave up only two hits and both runners were erased on base-running putouts.

Augustana finally got on the board in the top of the fourth when they scored four runs. They then tied the game in the fifth inning before taking the lead for good in the sixth inning. The Concordia pitching staff tired in the late innings as the young relief corps gave up four runs in the sixth, three in the seventh, two in the eighth and then six more in the ninth inning.

The Cobbers got to within one run at 12-11 after the bottom of the eighth inning when they scored five runs. Zach Johnson took advantage of the hitter-friendly wind to loft the team's first home run of the season. His first collegiate round-tripper was a grand slam that cut the lead to 12-10. CC scored one more run in the inning to close the gap to 12-11.

Things looked even brighter in the top of the ninth inning when freshman reliever Matt Green induced two ground ball outs to start the inning. Augustana was then able to score six runs with two outs as they connected on eight straight hits to push the lead to 18-12.

The final two runs of the game came courtesy of five straight walks issued by the Viking pitching staff.

Concordia had 11 hits in the game and had four players record multiple-hit games. Freshman leadoff hitter Jake Krause went 3-for-5 and scored three times. Zach Johnson's only hit of the game was the grand slam home run, but he also walked twice and scored three runs. Kyle Johnson went 2-for-6 with a pair of RBI's, while Erick Sykora was 2-for-5 and Scott Halupczok went 2-for-4.

The Cobbers had five stolen bases on the day and have 12 in their first five games. They had 22 in all of last season.

Augustana had a stat-stuffing day at the plate. They collected 21 hits, including 11 extra-base hits. Leadoff hitter Marc Blakely had a career day as he went 4-for-6 with four RBI's and three runs scored. He also clouted two home runs, a triple and a double.

Concordia will finish off their Florida swing with a pair of games on Saturday, Mar. 3. The Cobbers will face Grove City (Pa.) at 9:30 a.m. and then square off against Thiel College (Pa.) at 1 p.m.