Offense Continues To Be Pitching Staff's Best Friend

MOORHEAD, Minn. (4/08/15)—The Cobber offense continues to be a pitchers' best friend as they put up another pair of astronomical numbers in a 15-6, 16-6 sweep over Macalester.

Concordia game 2 starting pitcher Kyle Connelly summed up the pitching staff's take on the offense,  "I love being on a team where you can give up six runs and be confident you're going to win."

The Cobbers scored 23 runs in a single-game win over Morris on Monday and then added 31 runs on 24 hits in the sweep over Macalester. CC has now scored 54 runs and hammered out 44 hits in the last three games.

The two wins are the first of the conference season for Concordia as they even their MIAC mark at 2-2. The Cobbers are now 14-5 overall. Macalester falls to 6-12 in all games and 0-8 in league play.

It took the Cobber offense three innings to get started. Concordia conceded three runs in the first, another in the third and trailed 4-2 heading to the bottom of the third.

That's when the Cobbers flexed their muscles and scored nine runs on six hits. Junior Cody Rahman had four RBI in the inning including a two-run homer to right field.

Concordia then completed their 15-run attack in the fifth frame when they scored three times.

The Cobbers had 12 hits in the first game. Rahman, Devin Johnson, Jordan Domine and Nick Bornhauser all had multiple-hit games. Johnson went 3-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs while scoring three times and Rahman finished 2-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored.

Ross Merriman started the game and went the first 6.0 innings. He allowed six earned runs on eight hits and struck out two. Turner Storm finished the game by pitching a perfect seventh inning.

Concordia put the Scots' split hopes on the back burner when they plated 10 innings in the first two innings of game 2. CC scored four runs on three hits in the first inning and then added six runs on six hits in the second. Bornhauser struck for a two-run double in the first and then Tim Carlson had a two-run double in the second.

The Cobbers would add two more scores in the fifth and closed out the sweep with four runs in the seventh. The game was scheduled to go nine innings but it was called in the seventh due to the 10-run rule.

Concordia added another dozen hits in the nightcap. Bornhauser, Johnson, Carlson and Aaron Green all had two hits each. Bornhauser went 4-for-6 and drove in six runs in the two games. He is now hitting .492 for the season.

Johnson has now hit safely in seven straight games and has multiple-hit games in four straight. He has raised his average to .418 for the season. 

Eric Carlsen had a single hit in each game against Macalester and drove in four runs. He has hit safely in 12 straight games and is hitting a team-best .500 for the year.

Like Merriman in the first game, Connelly went the first six innings and allowed six runs – only five of which were earned. Connelly struck out six and walked a pair. He earned his third win of the year and is now 3-1.

Nate Wendorf pitched the seventh inning and didn't allow a hit and struck out one.

Concordia will look to continue their offensive ways when they play at Hamline on Saturday, Apr. 11 at 1 p.m. The doubleheader will be the first games played at the new St. Paul Saints home field.