AUSTIN, Texas - The Concordia Texas baseball team split a doubleheader on the road at Texas Lutheran University. Senior pitcher
Rowdy Hoadley went the distance in the series finale win at Katt-Isbel Field on Saturday.
GAME ONE: L, 16-7
Concordia Texas came out hot offensively but couldn't keep pace with Texas Lutheran in a high-scoring opener, falling 16-7. The Tornados jumped ahead early with a three-run first inning behind RBIs from Logan Smith and Samuel Ortiz, then added another in the second to build a 4-0 lead.
After Texas Lutheran responded with two runs in the second, the Bulldogs broke the game open in the third with a five-run inning to take control. Concordia battled back in the fifth, tying the game at 7-7 after a sacrifice fly from Smith and a two-RBI single from Ortiz.
However, Texas Lutheran answered immediately with a four-run fifth and continued to add on late to pull away.
Ortiz led the way offensively with two hits and three RBIs, while Smith also drove in three. Kalen Clark added two hits and scored twice. Concordia finished with seven hits but was hurt by four errors and couldn't slow the Bulldogs' 17-hit attack.
Game Two: W, 11-1
Concordia Texas bounced back in dominant fashion in game two, rolling to an 11-1 win behind a complete game performance from Hoadley. Hoadley was outstanding on the mound, tossing all nine innings while allowing just one run on six hits and five strikeouts.
Offensively, the Tornados responded with consistent production throughout the game, scoring in six different innings. A three-run second inning gave CTX the lead for good, highlighted by RBI production from Josh Atomanczyk, Ty Klaus-Kismore, and Samuel Ortiz.
Concordia continued to build the lead with multi-run innings in the fourth, fifth, and eighth. Klaus-Kismore had a big day, finishing with two hits, including a double and triple, and three RBIs. Landon Hyle and Gavin Caldwell each drove in two, while Ortiz added two RBIs as well. Jett Warner chipped in three hits as part of a 12-hit performance for the Tornados.
CTX controlled the game from start to finish, securing the split of the doubleheader with one of their most complete performances of the season.
Concordia Texas will next return home to close out the regular season with a series against St Thomas starting next Friday, April 24th. First pitch is scheduled for 6pm.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the CTX baseball program, follow us on social media (@ctxathletics) and visit athletics.concordia.edu.
