BOX SCORE

Surprise, Ariz. – Ryan Ullmann recorded six strikeouts on the mound, but the Concordia University Texas baseball team fell to Linfield by an 8-1 decision on Sunday, Feb. 10 at the Texas Rangers' Spring Training Facility in the final game of the Arizona Desert Classic for both programs.

Linfield (3-1) built up an 8-0 advantage through five innings by scoring at least once in four straight frames. The Wildcats started pulling away by scoring four times in the top of the third, which was capped by a two-run single up the middle by Kramer Lindell that made it 5-0 at the time.

Concordia's offense started to come alive in the bottom of the sixth. Casey Skalaban and Quinn Guest hit back-to-back singles to lead off the frame, placing runners on first and second with nobody out, before a wild pitch thrown by starter Zach Brandon allowed them to advance to second and third. Schaekel then grounded out to first base two plays later, allowing Skalaban to score. The next Tornado hitter flied out to end the inning before four relievers between both teams kept each offense off the scoreboard the rest of the way.

Concordia's Austin Rupert fell to 0-1 on the season by suffering the loss. He surrendered seven hits and six runs, which were all earned, while fanning two and walking three over four innings of work. Ullmann then came in and allowed two runs and five hits in four innings of relief. He struck out six and did not issue a free pass to first before Cade Radley hurled a scoreless ninth. Zach Brandon got the win on the mound for Linfield, recording four strikeouts and allowing only three hits and one run that was earned.

Concordia (0-6) will return home and host the Rudy's Country Store & Barbeque Tornado Classic from Feb. 14-17. The Tornados will open up against Texas Lutheran on Thursday night at 7 p.m. In the last meeting between the schools, Concordia won a 15-inning marathon by a 3-2 decision that allowed the program to clinch the American Southwest Conference West Division crown and hosting rights for the entire league tournament.
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Linfield (3-1)           014     120     000     8    14    0
Concordia (0-6)      000     001     000     1     5     0
     Linfield: Zach Brandon, Garrett Miller (7), Garett Speyer (8) and Kyle Chamberlain.
     Concordia: Austin Rupert, Ryan Ullmann (4) and Brandon Hollier, Tyler Bain (6), Gareth Hutton (9).