LACEY, Wash. – The bats never found their rhythm on the field, as Concordia managed to sweep the final doubleheader, 8-3 and 4-3, to take the four-game series over the Saints.
Defense was a major issue for the Saints in the first game, as three errors and missed opportunities resulted in seven of the Cavaliers' eight runs in being unearned. In the second game, the bats did not come alive until the final inning, where SMU plated three runs and had the tying runner in scoring position, and game-winning runner on first. However, Concordia managed to escape Lacey with a pair of wins and the four-game series.
In the first game, the Saints started with a spark as
Aaron Renaud delivered a two RBI double to right center, scoring both
Ryne Oshiro and
Elijiah Santiago. However, the Saints were only able to score one run over the next eight innings of the first game, and sixth of the second game.
Concordia added their first run in the second inning on a sac fly and tied and gained the lead in the fourth with two runs. CU added runs in the fifth and seventh to stretch their lead to 5-2.
Colton Peha drove in
Kahi Hirano in the seventh to cut the score to two on a single to right field. A 0-2 two RBI double, followed by an RBI single in the eighth iced the game for Concordia to a tune of 8-3.
Clark Streby (1-3) picked up the loss, but managed to piece together a good game on the mound. Over six plus innings, he allowed six hits, five runs, one earned, with three strikeouts.
Robbie Shineman pitched a clean seventh inning, and
Zach Alcos went the final two, striking out five.
In the second tilt, Concordia managed the first lead of the game, scoring one run in the first on a RBI double to left. They followed it up with a two RBI double in the third, and finally scored one more in the fourth off of an SMU throwing error.
Saint Martin's attempted a comeback in the seventh and final inning, leading off with a walk and a single. After a strikeout, Oshiro hit a groundball to first, which bounced off the mitt and sailed down the right field foul line. On the play Oshiro reached third, and both
Ryan Colvin and
Ty Matsunami scored.
Cody Chavis was next up, and singled through the left side to put the tying run on first. A pop up to second put the Saints on their final out. Renaud check swing hit down the third baseline resulted in a throwing error and put Chavis on second with two outs. However, Santiago's bunt was fielded cleanly and Concordia came away with the 4-3 win.
Benjamin Wadowski (0-2) got the start, going three innings with five hits, three runs and two strikeouts.
Ryan Dorney finished off the final four innings, allowing one run but unearned, keeping his ERA perfect at 0.00, while striking out four.
Saint Martin's hosts Northwest Nazarene next weekend for a four-game series, starting with a doubleheader on Friday at noon. Live stats of the games will be available on smusaints.com.
