(Ann Arbor, MI) – Concordia baseball hosted Siena Heights for a WHAC conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals extended their win streak to four games and continued to climb up the conference standings. The Cardinals used timely hitting and effective pitching to sweep Siena Heights 8-5 and 10-0. With two games remaining, the Cardinals now sit tied for 3rd with Lawrence Tech in the WHAC standings.
Game 1 – CUAA 8, Siena Heights 5
The Saints picked up runs in the second and third innings to take a 2-0 lead after three innings played. The Cardinals adjusted their attack and remained aggressive scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. RJ Bortle (JR/Hartland, MI) put the Cardinals on the board first with an RBI single to score Preston Sherman (JR/Homer, MI). Kainan Bayn (FR/Zeeland, MI) recorded a pinch hit single scoring two more Cardinals to take the lead, 3-2. Mercer recorded the Cardinals fourth RBI with a two out single scoring Ethan Vosburg (SR/Climax, MI).
The Cardinals gave one run back in the fifth inning, 4-3 before scoring four more in the sixth inning. RJ Bortle doubled and eventually stole third before scoring the Cardinals first run of the inning. Chris Lowe (JR/DeWitt, MI) doubled later in the inning to score Moyer and Max Hect extending the Cardinals lead, 7-3. Blaine Milheim (SR/Eaton Rapids, MI) was the next batter and recorded a two out RBI single scoring Lowe.
The Saints recorded a 2-run home run in the seventh inning to make the score 8-5 but that's where it would remain over the last two innings.
Jimmy McKane (JR/Saint Johns, MI) earned the win for the Cardinals making it his eighth of the season. The senior standout pitched five strong innings and only allowed two runs on eight hits. Kane Bourbina (JR/Saginaw, MI) and Tyson Kleinfelter (FR/Perrysburg, OH) were solid in relief.
Game 2 – CUAA 10, Siena Heights 0 (8 innings)
The second game was all Cardinals as they scored three in the first two innings and never looked back. Grant Steinborn (JR/Flushing, MI) and Bayn recorded RBIs in the first inning scoring Moyer and Lowe. The Cardinals added a run in the third inning on an RBI flyout from Justin Mercer (SR/Howell, MI) to score Jordan Sherman (FR/Homer, MI).
Vann Acker (JR/Eaton Rapids, MI) recorded a solo home run in the sixth inning extending the Cardinals lead 4-0.
Blaine Milhiem extended his hit streak to 33 games in style with a two run blast in the seventh inning to make it 7-0.
The Cardinals forced a shortened game in the 8th inning scoring three runs on three hits while taking advantage of one Saints error.
Billy Blair (SO/St. Charles, MI) and Alex Phillips (FR/Tucson, AZ) each pitched four innings for the Cardinals. The duo combined for six strikeouts and only allowed four scattered hits for the Saints.
Concordia improves to 33-15 overall and 13-7 in the WHAC. The team will play at home on Sunday against Lourdes a senior day double header. Senior recognition for the Cardinals will take place between games. The first game of the double header is scheduled to start at 1pm.
