Concordia Baseball traveled north to Oakland this weekend for a four game series with the Hawks of Holy Names. The Eagles picked up two wins in the series, scoring a total of 27 runs in the two wins.
Game one: CUI- 6 HNU-7
The Eagles dropped game one of the series as four errors came back to haunt them. Starter
Mike Killeen was tagged for seven runs, with only two being earned.
Chasing 6-1 heading into the top of the fifth, Concordia came back to tie up the game.
Ryan Land and
Haloa Dudoit each drew walks, followed by
Jair Donovan getting hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Bailey Collins came to the plate and singled to bring in two runs. Senior
Chad Whiteaker stepped into the box with two on and two outs and smashed a three-run homerun to left center to tie the game at six.
Jason McLellan came in to pitch three innings of strong relief work. He allowed just three hits while striking out three.
Dudoit and Collins each had three hits in the game.
Dillon Millar had three stolen bases.
Game two: CUI-17 HNU- 2
The Eagle offense unleashed in game two of the series as
Alex Zalasky picked up his third win of the season.
A massive 11 run top of the second was started as
Hunter Holland and Whiteaker each wore a pitch, putting two on as Millar laid down a bunt for a base hit to load them up for
Joey Thompson. Thompson earned an RBI as he was hit by a pitch and brought in a run. Three consecutive walks brought in three Eagle runs to put the Eagles up 4-0. Donovan singled to plate two more before stealing second. Collins was hit by a pitch and both he and Donovan were knocked in by a double from Whiteaker. Singles from Thompson and Martin each brought in a run to put the Eagles up 11-0 in the second inning.
A Holland homerun in the fourth and an RBI double from Land to knock in
Dominic Castro in the top of the seventh each added a run.
The Eagles were not done, however, as they played four more runs in the top of the ninth. Walks to
Nick Bates, Land and
Michael Nava loaded the bases as Collins, one of the Eagles top hitters, came to bat with two outs. Collins smashed his first career grand-slam to right field, sealing the win for CUI.
Zalasky went seven innings, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out four. He did not walk a batter. Whiteaker came on in relief and allowed just one run on two hits in two innings of work.
Game three: CUI-10 HNU- 3
Continuing what they had started the night before, the Eagles came out swinging as they put up six runs in the top of the first inning.
Land led off the game with a double to right field. Dudoit legged out a bunt single as Donovan singled to bring in Land. Collins drew a walk before Holland singled to center to knock in another run. Whiteaker was hit by a pitch, putting two on for Millar who doubled to right center to knock in two more runs. Thompson hit a two RBI single to put the Eagles up 6-0.
The Eagles scored one more in the fourth and plated another three in the sixth.
Collin Orellana had an outstanding day on the mound. In his six innings he gave up just four hits. The only run he surrendered was unearned. The lefty struck out five on the day and improved to 4-0 on the season.
Land led the offense in game three going 3-5 with two RBIs.
Game four: CUI- 1 HNU-2
The Eagle offense slowed down immensely in the final game of the series as the Hawks held them to just one run.
Land led off the game with his 25
th walk of the season. He now ranks third in the PacWest in this category. An error allowed Dudoit to reach, moving Land to third. A sacrifice fly from Donovan plated Land, the lone Eagle run in the game.
Morgan Brannock threw the ball well, going four innings and allowing two runs, just one earned, and striking out three.
Cade Temple threw scoreless innings in relief.
Whiteaker had two hits in the game.
The Eagles now sit at a record of 21-21 overall and 17-11 in PacWest play. Concordia returns home to face PacWest leading Azusa Pacific in a four game series beginning on Thursday. Game time is set for 3 p.m.
