Gameday Recap

MOORHEAD, Minn. (4/16/07)--In the first five games of the MIAC season, everything seemed to fall just out of the reach of the Concordia baseball team that was young, inexperienced and itching to get into the win column. As hard as they tried to come away with a win, their opponents always found a way to come up with the big hit, the timely run or the stellar defensive play. That all changed in one wind swept game as the Cobbers erased a 7-1 deficit in the third inning of their second game against Bethel and knocked out a walk off hit of their own in posting an 11-10 victory over the Royals. The win is the first of conference play for CC and once again proves the fact that "the game is never over until the final out."

Bethel cruised to a win in the first game by posting nine runs in the second inning. They were the recipient of seven Cobber errors that turned a tight conference showdown into a lopsided affair. The Royals scored 11 of their 13 total runs in the first two innings of the opener and sailed to a 13-4 win.

Concordia is now 5-15 overall and 1-5 in the MIAC. Bethel wins for only their second time in the last seven games and improves to 13-11 overall and 3-5 in league play.

Playing in conditions that were more suitable for football, the teams fought the swirling winds throughout the afternoon. Every fly ball that was lifted into the outfield was never routine and always had a chance to fall for a hit. The teams combined for 13 errors in the two-game series with most coming after a fly ball.

In the first game, Bethel struck for nine runs on five hits and was aided by three Concordia errors. That one frame sealed the fate for both teams. The Cobbers struck for four runs midway through the game but by then the outcome was nearly in hand.

Only one player had more than one hit for the Royals. Ryan Doheny went 2-for-4 with two RBI's. The loudest offensive firework in the game came from the bat of Bethel leadoff hitter Brandon Carr. Carr hit a grand slam in the second inning marking the second straight game that he has clouted a grand slam.

Charlie Zak pitched the first five innings, allowed only three hits, struck out four to earn his second win of the season.

Three different Cobber players had a single hit in the contest. Brian Knoblauch doubled in the fifth inning to drive in a pair of runs. Freshman Randy Hayden got called up to the varsity squad earlier in the day and had a hit in his first collegiate at-bat.

The unsung hero of the first game for Concordia was relief pitcher Darrin Carlson. Carlson entered the game in the second inning and the Cobbers trailing 8-0. He proceeded to pitch five strong innings and did not allow an earned run.

The second game started just like the first with Bethel bolting to a 7-1 lead in the top of the third inning. Concordia came up with three crucial runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 7-4. After a Garrett Kramer home run in the fourth, CC scored three more runs in the bottom of the inning to pull within 8-6.

Cobber starter Eddie Massee then shut the door in the fifth and Concordia would take the lead in the game for the first time all series by scoring three more runs. The big blow in the frame was a double by freshman second baseman Tyler Doll. Doll was one of four first-year players that started the second game for the Cobbers.

Bethel tied the game at 10-10 by posting single runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Kirby Carr hit his third round tripper of the year in the sixth inning and then the Royals tied the game in the seventh. However, they had runners on first and second with only one out and failed to connect on a run-scoring hit.

Pumped up by not allowing a second run to cross the plate, the Cobbers were finally able to come up with their own last-inning heroics. Center fielder Ryan Emter opened the bottom of the seventh inning with a triple to right field and then Knoblauch brought him home on the very next at-bat with a deep single to right center.

Junior pitcher Anthony Stern was credited with his first win of the season. He came in with runners on first and second and no one out in the top of the seventh and did not allow Bethel to take the lead.

Knoblauch was one of four Cobber players with more than one hit in the game. He went 3-for-3 and drove in the game-winning run. Doll was 2-for-3 and had four RBI's. He upped his season batting average to .368. Catcher Kyle Johnson went 2-for-4 and scored two runs. Zach Johnson was the final member of the multiple-hit quartet. He went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs.

Concordia will take to the road for their next conference series. The Cobbers will play at Gustavus on Wednesday, Apr. 18 at 1 p.m. They will then return home for a pair of conference doubleheaders over the weekend.