BOX SCORE

Austin, Texas – Colton Gommert scored on a sacrifice bunt by Nick Kozole after driving in a run earlier in the game to lift the 15th-ranked Concordia University Texas baseball team to a 3-2 victory over Hardin-Simmons in 11 innings on Friday, March 16 at Tornado Field. The Tornados have won two of their last three American Southwest Conference West Division games in walk-off fashion.

Concordia scored first in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by Kyle Rodriguez, but Hardin-Simmons (7-9, ASC 1-3) had a quick answer in the top of the third when Jason Vause reached on a fielder's choice to plate Chris Matthews for an unearned run.

After the teams exchanged runs in the sixth to create a 2-2 deadlock, Concordia had its first chance to win on a walk-off play in the bottom of the ninth by loading the bases with nobody out. Andrew Burns was hit by a pitch, Gommert earned a free pass to first and Rodriguez singled to third to put three runners on for Kozole. The senior, however, grounded into a fielder's choice with pinch runner Heath Padgett being thrown out at home. Reliever Tyler Brunnemann got the final two outs by fanning the next two hitters to force extras.

After Ryan Ullmann sent the Cowboys down in order in the top of the 11th, the Tornados were able to come through with the walk-off hit they needed in the bottom half of the frame. Gommert drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a Kyle Rodriguez single. He then advanced to third while pitcher Stewart Person unsuccessfully attempted to pick off Rodriguez at first, setting the scene for Kozole once again. The senior came through on his second try to plate the winning run by hitting a sacrifice bunt towards first base, as Gommert narrowly beat out the throw to home plate.

Ullmann, who already has five saves out of the bullpen for Concordia, picked up the victory to improve to 1-0 on the year. He did not allow a run over hit over two frames while striking out one and retiring all five batters he faced. Hardin-Simmons' Person took the loss after surrendering a hit and a run while failing to record an out to drop his record to 1-2.

Concordia (18-4, ASC 4-0) will face Hardin-Simmons in a doubleheader tomorrow at Tornado Field. The first game is slated to start at 1 p.m.
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Hardin-Simmons (7-9, ASC 1-3) 001 001 000 00 2 8 3
#15 Concordia (18-4, ASC 4-0) 010 001 000 01 3 7 3
Hardin-Simmons: Troy Nicholson, James Simmons (8), Tyler Brunnemann (9),Stewart Person (11) and Chris Matthews.
Concordia: Scott Hays, Jacob Spelbring (7), Russell Johns (10), Ryan Ullmann (10) and Collin Janssen.