GAME ONE BOX SCORE

GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Austin, Texas – After coming up on the short end of a pitcher's duel last night, the Concordia University Texas baseball team got big contributions from every part of its batting order and a stellar start from Most Outstanding Player Scott Hays on the mound to win an American Southwest Conference First Round Series against Louisiana College on Saturday, Apr. 30 at Tornado Field. The Tornados took the opener, 19-9, and the nightcap by a 10-0 decision to eliminate the Wildcats with both games being called after seven innings due to the 10-run rule.

Playing as the visiting team, Concordia started the opener by scoring 10 runs on 11 hits in the top of the first frame off Wildcat ace Cole Prejean. With two outs on the board, Justin Beasley started the big inning by doubling to the gap in left center for the first of eight straight hits for the Tornados. Collin Janssen drove in Beasley for the first run with a single to right center before Colton Gommert and C.J. Riojas each recorded two-run singles to make it 5-0. Kristopher Pearce, Brent Schaekel, Beasley and Janssen each drove in a run and Beasley scored on a wild pitch to give the squad a 10-run cushion before the side was finally retired on a line drive dug up by shortstop Steven Davis.

Louisiana College, which won last night's game by a 3-1 decision to take 1-0 lead in the series at the time, came as close as five runs on two occasions in the game. A single to left field in the bottom of the second by Chris Waguespack scored Cody Laprarie and cut the deficit in half at 10-5, but Concordia's Kyle Bieschke took the momentum back by blasting a two-run homer to left center in the top of the third.

The Wildcats scored four more times over the next two frames to make another minor threat to come back, which was capped by a three-run homer by Mike Doughty. Concordia, however, got a five-run inning started with a Schaekel single that plated Pearce and Riojas to pull away.

Gerry Morrison, who pitched three scoreless innings in relief for Pedro Maldonado, picked up the victory for Concordia and moved to 3-0 on the year. He allowed three hits and recorded one strikeout. Louisiana College's Prejean, who only yielded nine earned runs in the regular season, took the loss and fell to 8-2 after surrendering 10 runs that were all earned in just 0.2 innings of work. He also surrendered nine hits while recording one strikeout.

With his offense supporting him with 10 runs, Hays was masterful on the mound for the Tornados in the decisive game three that determined which team would advance to the championship round. Robert Brown belted a pair of RBI singles to help put the Tornados up 3-0 through three innings before a two-run single by Beasley doubled the lead and provided insurance for Hays and the hosts in the fourth.

Concordia cushioned its lead by scoring four more times in the fourth. After Gommert hit an RBI single and scored on a wild pitch, Brent Schaekel hit an inside-the-park home run to center that produced the final outcome. Ryan Ullmann relieved Hays for the final frame and ended the game by striking out Adam Broussard and Stephen Davis with runners on first and second. Facing a full count, Davis was caught looking with a pitch that found the outside corner.

“It is a tribute to the guys,” said second-year head coach Tommy Boggs, whose team advanced to next week's championship round for the first time since 2008. “All of the hard work they put in really paid off today, and Scott Hays was absolutely amazing.”

Hays improved to 1-1 by picking up the victory for Concordia and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the series. He threw six shutout innings and allowed only two hits while recording two strikeouts. Only one Wildcat was able to advance past first base, which was the result of a Tornado error in the outfield. Louisiana College's Greg Uzee suffered the loss and ended the season with a 3-3 ledger.

Concordia (27-15) will travel to UT-Dallas for next week's double-elimination championship event. After McMurry swept Texas-Tyler, the top seed in the East Division, the Comets earned the right to host by winning both of their games against Texas Lutheran.
-agate-
Concordia                   (10)02     200     5    19   22    1
Louisiana College     321         300     0     9     14    2
(Game was called after seven innings due to the 10-run rule)
     Concordia: Pedro Maldonado, Gerry Morrison (5) and Collin Janssen.
     Louisiana: Cole Prejean, Chris Bridges (1), Stuart Morgan (3), Justin Lacy (7) and Chris Waguespack.

Louisiana College (26-17)     000     000     0     0     3     1
Concordia (27-15)                    201     340     x    10    9     2
(Game was called after seven innings due to the 10-run rule)
     Louisiana: Greg Uzee, Kory Kottenbrook (4), Josh Foster (6) and Chris Waguespack.
     Concordia: Scott Hays, Ryan Ullmann (7) and Collin Janssen.