GAME ONE BOX SCORE

GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Austin, Texas – Brent Schaekel went 2-for-4 with three RBI and hit a key two-run single in the fourth that put the Tornados ahead for good as the Concordia University Texas baseball team earned a 10-2 victory over Southwestern in the nightcap of a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 5 at Tornado Field. The Pirates won the first game, 3-2, earlier in the day.

After an attempted rally fell just short in a one-run loss to start the day, Concordia took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Collin Janssen drilled a two-out single to right center that plated Nick Kozole. The Pirates added a run in the third and fourth innings to go ahead, 2-1, but the Tornados answered right back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Pedro Maldonado gave the hosts life by blasting a double that stayed fair down the line in right after Eric Kegley managed to retire the first two Tornado hitters he faced. He scored on the next play to tie the game at 2-all courtesy of a Kyle Bieschke single to the second baseman. Bucky Bryant kept the inning alive with an infield single before advancing to second on a passed ball, and with runners on second and third, Schaekel delivered the clutch hit that score both runners and give the Tornados a 4-2 lead.

The Tornados scored their fifth straight run with two outs in the sixth before putting the game away with five runs in the seventh. The key play in the inning came when Robert Brown stepped up to the plate after Maldonado was intentionally walked to load the bases. Batting with his team ahead by a 6-2 score, Brown came close to blasting what would have been a bases-clearing hit down the line by third base if it wasn't ruled to be a foul ball. The senior, however, kept his focus and came through with a two-run single to right center which gave the Tornados an 8-2 lead and all the insurance they needed.

Colin Butschek, Ryan Ullmann and Sean Thompson each threw three innings for the Tornados. They combined for nine strikeouts and no walks. Ullmann was credited with the victory to improve to 1-0 by fanning four hitters and allowing six hits and one run which was earned. Eric Kegley, who pitched three innings in relief for Southwestern, was tabbed with the loss and dropped to 0-1 after yielding six hits and allowing four runs, including three earned, in three innings of work.

In game one, Southwestern (1-1) took a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-run triple by Cray Betts. The Pirates tacked on a run an inning later when Patrick Keenan went yard, which would later prove to be the decisive hit.

The Tornados, who had seven hits in the game, attempted to rally. They got their first run in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly by Brown which plated Moldanado. Two innings later, Maldonado scored again on a Kozole RBI single before the frame ended with three baserunners stranded.

Still trailing by a run, Concordia had another opportunity to score when it loaded the bases again in the sixth on Kozole and Schaekel singles as well as a walk that was issued to Colton Gommert. The Tornados, however, left three on base for the second time in three innings as the next batter grounded out to the shortstop to end the threat.

Chris Churchwel hurled three innings and picked up the win for Southwestern. He improved to 1-0 by allowing two hits and one run which was unearned. Concordia's Maldonado suffered the loss and fell to 0-1 by giving up two hits and three runs which were earned while fanning seven. Russell Johns was strong in relief and kept the Tornados within striking distance by hurling three scoreless innings and not allowing a hit. He also rung up seven Pirate batters.

Concordia (1-1) will trek to Phoenix to compete at the Arizona Desert Classic from Feb. 10-13. The Tornados will open up play at the eight-team tournament against Pacific Lutheran on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 3 p.m. CST.
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Southwestern     210     000     0     3     2     1
Concordia           010     100     0     2     7     0
     Southwestern: Chris Churchwell, Matt Stuart (4), Chris Webber (7) and Johnny Gavrel.
     Concordia: Pedro Maldonado, Russell Johns (4) and Collin Janssen.

Southwestern     001     100     000     2     9     2
Concordia           100     301     50x     10   12   0
     Southwestern: Brantley Freeman, Eric Kegley (4), Alan Lowry (7), Nick Cox (8) and Nick Ashford.
     Concordia: Colin Butschek, Ryan Ullmann (4), Sean Thompson (7) and Collin Janssen.