Gameday Recap

ABERDEEN, S.D. (3/27/07)--Concordia wrapped up their pre-conference schedule in style as they swept Northern State 6-5, 7-1 in Aberdeen, S.D. on Tuesday. The sweep is the first for the Cobbers since they swept St. Mary's at the end of the season. After losing eight of their first nine games, CC has won three of their last five and has raised their season record to 4-10.

The Cobbers needed a last-inning rally to tie the score in the seventh inning in game one before winning it in the eighth inning. CC scored a single run in the seventh to tie the game at 5-5 and then won the game with an unearned run in the eighth. In the second game, Concordia gave up a run in the first inning then shut the door on the Wolves offense and scored seven unanswered runs on their way to the six-run victory.

The two big storylines for the Cobbers were the outstanding defense and the newly-found speed on the base paths. Concordia did not commit an error in either game. It is the first time since the start of last season when they split Mount Union that CC has gone through a doubleheader without committing a miscue.

The Cobber speed continues to be a different addition to the team's attack in 2007. CC stole seven bases against Northern State on Tuesday, which brings their season total to 24. That is more than Concordia had in all of last season (22) and the most since they had 32 in the 2002 campaign. The school record for stolen bases in a single season by a team is 64 set in 1984.

Freshman shortstop Jake Krause continues to swing the hot bat for Concordia. Krause had a pair of hits and scored a pair of runs in each game. He has now hit safely in the last four games and has raised his season average to .294. Senior Brian Knoblauch also had a pair of hits in the opener, going 2-for-2 with two RBI's.

The top two Cobber starting pitchers were the story in the second game. Senior Kevin Engebretson started the game and allowed only one earned run and four hits in three innings. Sophomore Scott Schumacher took over for Engebretson in the fourth inning and pitched three scoreless innings while allowing only a single hit. Schumacher has now pitched nine straight scoreless innings. During that stretch he has allowed only five hits and has struck out six. He has also lowered his ERA to a team-leading 3.63.

Concordia will open up MIAC against Bethel in the home opener on Saturday, Mar. 31 at 1 p.m. at the Jake Christiansen Athletic Complex.