BOX SCORE

Anthem, Ariz. – Colton Gommert and C.J. Riojas each had three hits, including two doubles, and combined to drive in nine Tornado runs in leading the Concordia University Texas baseball team to a 13-5 victory over Pacific Lutheran in the opening game of the Arizona Desert Classic for both schools on Thursday, Feb. 10 at Boulder Creek High School. The Lutes, who were ranked 27th nationally by Baseball America and 28th by D3baseball.com, held a 5-4 lead through five innings before the Tornados rallied to score the last nine runs of the game en route to recording their second straight victory.

Concordia pushed across four runs in the top of the second inning to jump out to a quick lead. Robert Brown led off with a single and was sacrificed over to second by Pedro Maldonado. After stealing third, Brown came home on an Alec Carter single for the game's first run. A Nick Kozole single doubled the Tornado lead at 2-0 before Gommert doubled to score two more.

Pacific Lutheran (0-1) was able to rally and take a 5-4 lead by plating two runs in the bottom of the second on a two-run single by Corey Moore and another three in the bottom of the fifth before the first out could be recorded. Hoffman sliced the deficit to one by hitting into a fielder's choice with the bases loaded. The tying run scored on a wild pitch by Gerry Morrison, who relieved Maldonado after the first two batters reached base earlier in the frame, and Ryan Boyles put the Lutes on top for the first run on a sacrifice fly to right.

Concordia, however, quickly regained the lead by plating two runs in the top of the sixth and got all the insurance they needed with three more runs in the eighth and four more in the ninth. Brent Schaekel, who went 3-for-4, tied the game at 5-all on an RBI triple and scored on the next play courtesy of a Gommert single to put the Tornados ahead for good. Riojas capped the scoring with a double that plated three runs in the top of the ninth.

“It was a great effort today,” said head coach Tommy Boggs after the game. “Great win! We did make some mistakes, but we did a pretty good job of recovering from them. We received some timely hitting that helped us beat a pretty good team.”

Gerry Morrison picked up his first victory of the season by pitching three strong innings in relief, allowing only two hits and one run which was unearned. He fanned four and only issued one walk. Sean Thompson kept the Lutes off the scoreboard over the last two frames and extended has yet to allow a run in five innings of work this season. He recorded two strikeouts. Nic Delikat, who entered the game with a 5-4 lead to work with, was tagged with the loss by allowing four runs and five hits in two innings pitched.

Concordia (2-1) will continue to be tested by strong opposition at the Arizona Desert Classic when it faces No. 8 Linfield on Friday, Feb. 11 at 3 p.m.
-agate-
Concordia (2-1)                040      002      034     13    18    3
Pacific Lutheran (0-1)      020      030      000      5      8      2
     Concordia: Pedro Maldonado, Gerry Morrison (5), Sean Thompson (8) and Alec Carter.
     Pacific Lutheran: Dan Johansen, Nic Delikat (6), Ryan Frost (8), Scotrt McGallian (9) and Zack Halverson, Ethan Ottemiller (6).