Gameday Game Recap

(recap by Mike Larson - Concordia SID assistant)

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.-- The sun was shining bright on the Port Charlotte baseball complex Thursday afternoon, but it wasn’t shining on the Cobbers as Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology defeated the Concordia Cobbers 9-4. 

RHIT sophemore Michael Matsui befuddled Cobber hitters throwing eight innings and allowing only two runs while scattering seven hits.  Matsui kept Concordia’s lineup off balance with breaking pitches, notching five strikeouts.  Right fielder Matt Salisbury helped his pitcher out with some solid defense and going 3-5 at the plate. 

Scott Schumacher’s first time pitching for the Cobbers was one he won’t forget, but might want to.  After giving up four straight singles in the first inning before hanging a curve-ball to #7-hitter Jeremy Hochstedler which was quickly sent over the left field fence.  Schumacher finished the game with four innings pitched and seven runs allowed.  Anthony Stern took over for Schumacher in the fifth inning, giving up two runs in the fifth before hanging four straight zeros on the scoreboard. 

The bright spots for the Cobbers offensively came mostly in the late innings.  Scott Halupczok drove a hard double to the wall in left-center to score Kyle Johnson from second to put Concordia on the board in the second inning.  Chris Klabo led off the eighth inning with a homerun to left to make the score 9-2.  In the ninth Concordia coach Bucky Burgau chose to get some of his younger players some at-bats, and they produced.  Matt Salisbury came in from right field to pitch and was greeted with five straight singles, including pinch-hit singles by Chris Nere and Zachary Howland.  Salisbury was eventually able to get out of the inning, but not before Concordia had put two runs on the board and left the bases loaded.

Ryan Emter led the Cobbers offensively with a 3-4 day, scoring once and knocking in one.  After going 3-4 on Tuesday, Chris Klabo continued to hit well, going 2-4 with a homerun and two RBIs.