Gameday Series Recap

(recap by Mike Larson - Concordia SID assistant)

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.-- Concordia used the strength of a pair of early-season pitching gems to sweep Loras in their first series of the season in Port Charlotte, Fla. The Cobbers received a complete-game, four-hitter from Blake Trenbeath in the opener to win 2-1 and then watched as Kevin Engebretson duplicated the complete-game feat by gaining an 8-3 decision in the nightcap.

Fans at Concordia baseball games are used to fighting the cool weather to enjoy a baseball game. Blankets, sweatshirts, and jackets are a common site at Cobber games. What is surprising is that the fans are wearing these at the first game in Port Charlotte, FLORIDA.

With cool weather and strong winds blowing in, the elements were in favor of the pitchers, and the first game was a classic pitchers duel. Dan Cutler of Iowa found himself going inning-for-inning against Trenbeath. Trenbeath seemed to enjoy living on the edge as he went the entire game without a 1-2-3 inning, letting the leadoff man reach in each of the first four innings. Trenbeath found a way out of every situation, and took a shutout into the 7th inning. Cutler was able to set the Cobbers down in order in the first, but found the sailing not so smooth after that, as he too had to wiggle his way out of sticky situations throughout the rest of the game.

The scoreless tie was broken in the bottom of the fourth inning when the Cobbers used their base-running skils to manufacture a run. Matt Youngquist led off with an infield single. He moved to second on a 4-3 fielders’ choice then advanced to third on Brian Knoublach’s fly ball to right field. Ryan Emter got the first RBI of the season by slapping a two-out single to right field that let Youngquist score.

Concordia added one more in the sixth inning when Billy DeNet’s ground ball to short allowed pinch-runner Andrew Zimmerman to score an important insurance run.

In the top of the seventh, Trenbeath clipped leadoff hitter Brad Hingtgen’s jersey to put a runner on board. After two groundouts, Greg Williams’ single scored Hingtgen to cut the lead to one run. Trenbeath then got Nick Olberding to groundout for the final out of the game.

Trenbeath finished the day with 7 IP, 1 ER, 1 BB, and allowed only four hits.

In game two, the weather stayed the same as did the effectiveness of Cobber pitching. Engebretson took the mound for Concordia against Loras College’s Tim Carty.

The Cobbers jumped on the board first as Scott Schumacher’s first plate appearance as a Cobber knocked in his older brother Brian Schumacher. With the elder Schumacher on second, Scott hit a hard grounder to thirdbase, where Dustin Roth made a clean fielding play but overthrew the first baseman, allowing Brian to score and Scott to advance reach first and advance to second.

Engebretson was able to take down the Duhawks in order in the first inning, but ran into trouble in the second. After giving up a solid singles to Don Pirckle and Blaine Nicks, Engebretson was dealt his most damaging blow. Aaron Becker singled hard down the left field line where left fielder Scott Schumacher mishandled the ball allowing both runs to score and Becker advance to third. After striking out the next batter, Engebretson gave up an infield single to Pat Reilly, which extended the Loras lead to 3-1.

If Loras was a pitching machine, in the fourth inning the wheels completely fell off. Leadoff hitter Scott Johnson walked, Scott Halupczok followed with a single. After Scott Schumacher flew out to centerfield, Zimmerman ripped a double to left field that scored Halupczok and Johnson. Jake Fitzsimmons singled and Loras went to the bullpen. Ryan Dunn entered the game for the Duhawks and lasted only five batters and was removed with a line of: 1/3 IP, 1 BB, 1 WP, 2 HBP, and 2 runs allowed. By the time James O’Tool was able to finish off the Cobbers, the Duhawks had allowed 6 runs while only giving up 3 hits.

Engebretson only ran into one more serious jam. With the bases loaded and only one out in the fifth, Engebretson faced Loras’ 5-6 hitters and struck out each of them to end the rally and cement the Cobbers 8-3 victory.

By the time the game had ended, a defensive star had emerged. Freshman second baseman Erick Sykora made two plays that could have been nominated for ESPN's Baseball Tonight’s Web Gems. The first came in the second inning while the Duhawks were rallying. A sharply hit line drive up the middle by Adam Gross was snagged majestically by Sykora. In the fifth, Sykora robbed speedy Greg Williams by diving to his left to snatch a hard groundball that was destined for right field. Sykora bounced up quickly and flipped the ball to first base just in time to record the out.

Concordia will take on Franklin College (Ind.) on Monday, Feb. 27 at 9:00am at the Stadium Field at Port Charlotte Stadium Complex in a single 9-inning game. The Grizzlies swept St. John's 8-4, 4-1 on Sunday and are currently unbeaten on the season. Tieg Herman is scheduled to pitch for the Cobbers.