March 26, 2025
RBI KIng Leads Cobbers' Comeback Win In Home Opener
Senior Thomas Horan became the school's all-time RBI leader as he helped the Cobbers overcome a 2-0 deficit, score 11 consecutive runs and beat Minn.-Morris 11-5.
Minn.-Morris
5-12
5
Concordia-M'head
8-6
11
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 1 |
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | X | 11 | 10 | 2 |
MOORHEAD, Minn. (3/26/25)---It was a good day for the 2025 home opener at The Buck.
A school record was broken, and the Cobbers rebounded from a 2-0 deficit, scored 11 consecutive runs and beat UMAC for Minn.-Morris 11-5.
Senior Thomas Horan drove in three runs to become the program's all-time RBI leader and helped Concordia record its third straight win. The Cobbers are unbeaten since returning from Florida.
Horan became the Cobbers' all-time RBI king in the 3-run sixth inning that erased the 2-0 deficit and started Concordia's run parade. The record-breaking RBI came with the bases loaded and the game tied at 2-2. Horan hit a ball up the middle that the Morris shortstop was able to glove and flip to second to get the fielder's choice out. Freshman Talan Plante scored on the play that gave CC the lead for good.
Concordia struck for eight, 2-out runs in the game-deciding seventh inning. Horan was once again in the thick of the run-scoring action. He laced a 2-out double to left center that brought home two runs and made the score 7-2.
The other big hit in the seventh came from first-year second baseman Luke Knudsen, who came through with a 2-run single to center field. Brayden Wolfgram and Caiden Kjelstrom also posted RBI in the inning.
The Cobbers got two stellar pitching performances from starter Alex Rudquist and freshman Grant Paffrath that took the team through the first 7.0 innings.
The pair combined to allow only one earned run on four hits, struck out seven Cougar batters and didn't give up an extra-base hit.
Rudquist went the first 3.0 frames, allowed three hits and one run while striking out three. Paffrath came on at the start of the fourth, didn't allow an earned run and picked up his second collegiate win. He gave up only one hit and fanned four batters.
Wyatt Mohr struck out three in the eighth before Aaron Ver Steeg and Gavint Gast finished off the ninth inning.
Concordia outhit Morris 10-8 in the game.
Horan was one of three Cobber hitters that posted a 2-hit game. He went 2-for-5 with three RBI, a run scored, had the game's only extra-base hit with a double and stole two bases for good measure.
Horan now has 122 RBI, which surpassed Ryan Hebrink, who posted 118 runs driven in from 2001-04.
Knudsen finished the game by going 2-for-4 with two RBI and a walk and Wolfgram, who entered the game in the sixth inning, was 2-for-2 with two RBI and a walk.
Kjelstrom also had a 2-RBI game. He went 1-for-5 with a walk and a stolen base.
Concordia will open MIAC play at St. Mary's on Friday, Mar. 26 at 1 p.m. The doubleheader was originally scheduled for Saturday, Mar. 29, but was moved up because of the forecast for cold weather in the Winona area on Saturday.
Cobber Baseball All-Time RBI Leaders (as of March 26, 2025)
1. 122 - Thomas Horan - 2020-25
2. 119 – Ryan Hebrink – 2001-04
3. 110 – Chris Coste – 1993-95
4. 106 – Kyle Johnson – 2006-09
5. 97 - Andy Gravdahl - 2018-23
6. 95 - Michael Olson - 2011-14
T7. 94 - Chris Klabo - 2004-07
T7. 94 - Isaac Henkemeyer-Howe - 2022-25
9. 90 - Tim Carlson - 2013-16
10. 86 - B.Schumacher - 2004-06
11. 83 - Jordan Domine - 2013-16
