Gameday Game Recap

(recap by Mike Larson - Concordia SID assistant)

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.-- Concordia pitchers threw nine good innings this afternoon, but unfortunately, Purdue-North Central’s staff threw ten as the Cobbers fell 5-3 in ten innings.  The win for Purdue evens their record at 3-3, while the loss for Concordia evens their record at 4-4. 

Purdue senior Tony Robb controlled the game for seven innings allowing only one unearned run. Robb’s slider-fastball combination baffled Cobber hitters as he struck out seven, walked only one, and allowed four hits.   

Concordia junior Kevin Engebretson was not to be outdone, however, as he threw eight and a third innings allowing two runs on nine hits with one base on balls.   With the game tied at two in the top of the ninth inning Concordia decided to live on the edge.  Leadoff hitter Chris Stocker sent a deep shot to left field that by all appearances was about to give Purdue the lead, but left fielder Scott Johnson was able to reach over the fence and keep the game tied.  Purdue’s next hitter Chad Pierce ripped a single up the middle and that was all for Engebretson.  Brian Schumacher came in from third base to take the mound.  Joe Reid ripped the first pitch from Schumacher up the middle for what was on its way to being a run scoring single until a diving Billy DeNet was able to catch up with it and make the flip to Erick Sykora, who made an almost instantaneous turn and throw to first for the spectacular inning-ending double play. 

The pumped-up Cobbers got a leadoff single from Scott Johnson but were unable to score in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extra innings. 

Schumacher was not able to get full control of his pitches and with runners on first and third gave up a two-out triple to Steve Hudson.  The nest hitter, Steve Georgion, slapped a double to the gap that drove home Hudson and put the Cobbers in a five to two hole. 

Matt Youngquist led off the tenth with a single setting up Concordia for a comeback.  Purdue did their part to make it interesting, committing two errors on plays that should have resulted in double-plays and that eventually scored Youngquist, putting the tying run at the plate.  Purdue pitcher John Vucko was able to work around the fielding miscues getting the last two batters out to end the game. 

Chris Klabo, who didn’t start but did enter the game in the sixth, went one for two to extend his team high hitting streak to five games. 

Concordia finishes off their spring trip to Port Charlotte with a double header Sunday against Mt. Union starting at 9:30 ET.