IRVINE, Calif. - After going nearly three weeks without playing a game and over a month between home games, the Concordia baseball team took advantage of the opportunity in front of them against the Holy Names Hawks.

Behind a strong day on the mound from five pitchers and some timely power at the plate, Concordia improved to 5-4 in PacWest Conference action and climbed back to .500 on the season.

The Golden Eagles were sporting their brand new gold and green CUI jerseys that feature the school's new logo.  The baseball team is also now 2-0 while wearing the new threads.

Game 1: CUI 4, HNU 2

First baseman Nick Hansen gave the Golden Eagles the first run of the day with a RBI double that plated center fielder Nathan Benefeito.  CUI added two more unearned runs in the second frame to open up a 3-0 lead.

Freshman pitcher Josh Pugh was solid in five innings of work. He struck out three batters and helped CUI maneuver through a couple jams to preserve a 3-2 lead by the time his teammates came up to bat in the bottom of the fifth. 

Michael Dixon added some insurance with a solo homer to extend the lead to 4-2 and that's where it would stay thanks to the CUI bullpen.

The trio of Jake McBride, Jorge Arellano and Scott Wood combined for four scoreless innings of relief to help Pugh and the Golden Eagles earn the victory.

McBride did his job over 2.1 innings of work and Arrelano answered the call and retired the lone batter he was asked to take care of as well.

Wood nailed down his first save for CUI by getting the last four outs after head coach Joe Turgeon made the switch in the eighth. 

Game 2: CUI 4, HNU 1

Brett Finnel pitched a gem of a complete game in the rematch, going seven strong innings and only allowing one run and four hits.  He struck out six.

Finnel improved to 3-1 and lowered his ERA to 3.95 in the process.

Hansen supplied a RBI single to open the scoring once again - this time in the bottom of the fourth.  Freshman Makamae Du Pont followed with an unorthodox single to the left side that was hit sharply past the diving third baseman.  The infielders had nowhere to go with the ball and CUI extended the lead to 2-0. 

Michael Mira added a RBI single to give Finnel and the defense some extra breathing room.  Du Pont also added another RBI single and finished the day with three infield hits.

The Golden Eagles get two more opportunities to beat the Hawks on Saturday, when the two squads play another doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.

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