Baseball drops doubleheader against Augsburg

Box Score: AC 12, CUW 4
Box Score: AC 2, CUW 0

MESA, Ariz. - A slow start in the opening game of the doubleheader and six strong innings from Matt Parrent in the second contest were not enough for the Concordia University Wisconsin baseball team. The Falcons dropped both non-conference games against Augsburg College on Monday by scores of 12-4 and 2-0 at Gene Autry Park.

Adam Martz paced the Falcons offense in the twin bill with a 3-for-6 performance and two runs scored at the RussMatt Greater Phoenix Invitational. Harry Steldt recorded three hits and Austin Sarauer reached base twice on doubles, but several members of the CUW pitching staff were roughed up in the opener.

Game One Recap:

Nine CUW hits were not enough to overcome pitching woes in game one. Martz (senior, West Bend, Wis.) scored twice and was one of three players to record two hits in the game.

AC batted around the order in the second frame, putting six runs on the scoreboard while taking a 7-0 lead. The Auggie rally included four walks and three singles.

CUW (0-4) responded in the fourth inning when Sarauer led off with a double to right centerfield, followed by three-consecutive singles. Sophomores Steldt (West Bend, Wis.) and Beau Burgert (Oshkosh, Wis.) each drove in a run.

The Auggies answered with two runs of their own to push the advantage back to 9-2 after four innings of play. The first two batters in the frame walked before Tom Peterson and Adam Carl ripped doubles down the left field line.

AC tacked on another run in the fifth before the teams exchanged a pair of runs in the sixth inning. CUW received doubles from senior Zach Prideaux (Racine, Wis.) and Martz in the frame.

The Falcons did receive quality pitching from junior Glen Meyerhofer (Kaukauna, Wis.), freshman Tyler Adams (Jackson, Wis.) and sophomore Alex Johnson (Belvidere, Ill.) as the trio combined to throw three innings of two-hit ball.

Game Two Recap:

The mound belonged to the starting pitchers in the final game of the doubleheader, as Parent and Auggies' starter Ryan Mestnik combined to throw 13 innings, giving up a measly six hits and two runs between them.

Augsburg's Brent Kolbow led off the game with a single through the left side prior to a pop out and base on balls. AC then successfully completed a double steal and scored what porved to be the only run needed on a throwing error.

Mestnik went the distance to pick up the victory, strking out four without allowing a walk.

Parrent's statistical line was also impressive as he threw 68 pitches in six innings, struck out four, walked two, and allowed just two hits and one earned run. He faced 19 batters and forced eight groundouts.

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CUW returns to action on Wednesday morning with a non-conference doubleheader against Thomas College (Maine) beginning at 10 a.m. (PST) at Gene Autry Park.