IRVINE, Calif. – Sometimes the fifth time is the charm.

The Concordia University Irvine baseball team can certainly relate. 

After trying to begin the season on four different days but getting washed out every time due to rain, CUI finally was able to hold its home opener on Saturday in a non-conference doubleheader with Cal State San Marcos.

Fittingly in that first game with the Cougars, the Golden Eagles took control of the contest in the bottom of the fifth inning. 

When it was all said and done, the Golden Eagles were able to cage the Cougars the rest of the day and earn their first doubleheader sweep of the spring.

Game 1: CUI 10, CSUSM 3

Jordan Bolden tied the first game at 2-2 with a RBI double in the fourth.  CUI's offense then woke up with a vengeance as the Golden Eagles scored six runs in that fifth frame to flip a 2-1 deficit into a 7-2 advantage.

Wyatt Madison put Concordia ahead to stay in the fifth with a RBI single and then Michael Dixon II had a two-run triple.  Bolden joined the hit parade again with a RBI triple of his own a few batters later. CUI batted around in that fifth inning before turning the ball back over to their

Freshman Isaiah Walz went 4-for-4 in his collegiate debut. He helped manufacture the first run of the year with his first career RBI single in the bottom of the third.

Wearing jersey number 5 for the second season, pitcher Josh Pugh got into a groove in his first outing of the season. The sophomore righty struck out ten batters while working around three walks. 
He only allowed two earned runs in the first inning on a two-out single before going the rest of his 4.2 innings by keeping the Cougars at bay.

Jake Covey also played extremely well in his Concordia debut, helping record the final outs to preserve the 10-3 victory.

Game 2: CUI 6, CSUSM 4

All-American pitcher Riley O'Sullivan took the mound in game two and did not disappoint.  The senior righty tossed 4.2 innings and only allowed one earned run while striking out seven and scattering seven hits.

Two more unearned runs crossed the plate as well while O'Sullivan was on the mound.  Reliever Kaj James did a great job to snuff out a rally in that fifth inning and preserve the lead. 

Connor Meehan also earned his first save for the Green and Gold by limiting the Cougars to just one run in the final two innings. He struck out three and coerced the final fly out to end the game with the tying runs on the corners.

Offensively, Bolden tapped a RBI double to centerfield to give CUI the 3-1 lead in the bottom of the first. CUI never relinquished the lead after that the rest of the way.

Walz reached base with two more walks while also finishing the day with a combined three steals in his two outings. New First baseman Cameron Slessor added a sacrifice bunt that plated a run and fellow newcomer Luke Glascoe also supplied a RBI single.

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