Baseball Splits with MSOE

GLENDALE, Wis. – The CUW baseball team picked up a split Wednesday against the formidable Raiders of MSOE.

After dropping the first contest 2-6, the Birds bounced back in game two to pick up the 3-2 victory. 

Following the doubleheader, Concordia's record now sits at 14-19 overall and 9-11 in conference. 

Game one saw the Raiders jump to a 5-0 lead over CUW through five innings, as MSOE could scratch one run via a wild pitch and another via an error. 

But the Falcons would not go away quickly, as they responded with one run on one hit in the top of the sixth, as junior Kyle Flynn (Nashville, Tenn.) hit a sacrifice fly to center to score senior Cole Aguirre (Chino Hills, Calif.). 

However, MSOE would regather their five-run margin in the bottom half of the inning. 

Looking to force extra innings in the first game, senior Jimmy Juergensen doubled to right center field in the top of the seventh to score freshman Jordan Vazquez (Chicago, Ill.).

Despite the run, CUW's comeback effort ultimately fell flat as they suffered the loss and shifted their attention to game two.

In game one, Jimmy Juergensen was the lone Falcon to have an extra-base hit.

Defensively, Jordan Vazquez, sophomore Matt Miller (Fredonia, Wis.), and senior Sterling Armstrong (Lake Barrington, Ill.) turned a pair of 6-4-3 double plays. 

From the mound, sophomore JT Hockers (Middleton, Wis.) pitched four complete innings, allowing only one hit and recording three strikeouts, while fellow sophomore Nikolai Nawracaj (New Lenox, Ill.) pitched two innings and allowed one run.

Looking to avenge their game one loss, the Falcons struck first, as a sacrifice fly from Cole Aguirre brought in home fellow senior Jack Owens (Chicago, Ill.), who reached on base via a single and advanced via a stolen base. 

After taking a 1-0 lead, errors again became an issue for Concordia. MSOE's second run of the game came off an error, putting the Raiders up 2-1 after one inning of play. 

The score remained in MSOE's favor until the top of the fifth when freshman Connor Lasch (Chicago, Ill.) went up the middle to score Kyle Flynn from second, as CUW leveled the game up 2-2. 

Sterling Armstrong delivered a double down the left-field line to lead off the top of the seventh inning. Then, in the next at-bat, Kyle Flynn came up clutch and blasted a timely double to right center, scoring Armstrong to give CUW their first lead since the opening frame.

Looking to pull away a vital victory, the Falcons looked to close the game with freshman closer Alex Kuntz (Richfield, Wis.). Kuntz wasted no time, striking out the first batter before forcing a flyout in the second one. 

After MSOE gained a baserunner, Alex Kuntz shut down the Raider's hope for a comeback, striking out the pinch hitter for MSOE, with a strike finding the outside corner to secure the much-needed 3-2 win.

Six Falcons recorded hits in part two of the doubleheader, while Aguirre, Flynn, and Lasch all had RBIs. 

Junior Luke Bruckner (Fond du Lac, Wis.) had an efficient outing from the mound as he finished six and a third innings, giving up zero earned runs. 

Bruckner also recorded four strikeouts and did not give up any walks on 85 pitches.

In his ninth appearance of the season, Luke Bruckner forced 10 flyouts and five groundouts, improving his season record to 2-2. 

Meanwhile, Alex Kuntz followed a similar pattern. He pitched two and two-thirds innings, facing only nine batters and recording four strikeouts on 37 pitches. 

Furthermore, Kuntz tallied his third save of his freshman campaign. 

The CUW baseball team will take the weekend off and prepare for the Green Knights of St. Norbert College, who will travel south to Kapco Park on Tuesday for a decisive doubleheader starting at noon. 

Concordia's important slate of games will continue later next week on Friday, May 3^rd, as Concordia Chicago will come to Mequon for the final doubleheader of the season. 

In both doubleheaders, CUW will look to lock up a spot in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) tournament.