IRVINE, Calif. – For the second straight day, the Concordia baseball team staged an unforgettable comeback and erased a 10-run deficit against the Azusa Pacific Cougars.
Less than 24 hours after storming back
to stun APU 13-11 on Friday for Concordia's largest comeback in the program's NCAA DII era, the Golden Eagles nearly had a case of déjà vu against the same team.
Concordia scored ten runs this time in the bottom of the sixth and forced extras in Saturday's first game. The contest featured 29 total runs, 23 hits, and multiple momentum swings highlighted by Concordia's incredible 10-run inning and
Nicolas Erickson's clutch game-tying homer.
Isaiah Walz nearly won it in the bottom of the ninth with a fly ball to the warning track in left. However, APU escaped with a thrilling 15-14 victory.
Game 1: APU 15, CUI 14 (10 Innings)
In a game that had everything - early dominance, a stunning comeback, and late inning drama, Azusa Pacific outlasted Concordia in a 10 inning thriller.
APU jumped out to a 5–0 lead in the second frame and added another five up through the sixth. What followed in the bottom of the sixth from CUI was nothing short of remarkable. Trailing by ten CUI erupted for a 10 run inning completely flipping the momentum.
Cole Quillin and
David Baruch III each drove in runs to get things started while
Michael Mira hit a two-run double to ignite the rally.
Landry Spitler added a two run single and
Carter Vanderhook capped the surge with a clutch two-RBI hit marking his first hit of his career making it a memorable one. Baruch III delivered again later in the inning with a two run double double left field line tying the game at 10–10 in stunning fashion.
Azusa Pacific reclaimed the lead in the eighth inning making it 12–10. Yet the Golden Eagles refused to go away. Down to their final outs in the ninth
Nicolas Erickson crushed a dramatic three run home run to center field tying the game at 13–13 and sending it into extra innings.
In the tenth inning the Cougars were able to get in another two runs with a 15–13 edge. Concordia mounted one final push in the bottom half.
Jordan Bolden came around to score on a wild pitch cutting the deficit to one.
CUI utilized a number of arms in a bullpen heavy effort from seniors with
Michael Panichi getting the start and working 2.0 innings and
Evan Langer followed with 2.0 innings of one run ball striking out two. Fellow seniors
Luis Ricardo Acevedo and
Troy May each surrendered two runs in their respective innings while
Luka Brancato struck out two over two-thirds of an inning without allowing a run.
Nathan Hunter and
Caden Miller combined to allow three runs across 1.2 innings.
Jayden Daya and
Riley Ricken closed out the Green and Gold's effort for 1.2 innings.
Game 2: CUI 4, APU 3
After Azusa Pacific struck first with two runs in the opening frame Concordia quickly settled in and responded with authority in the bottom of the second inning. The Golden Eagles strung together quality at-bats beginning with a single from
Makamae Du Pont and a double by
Nolan Caira to put immediate pressure on the Cougars.
With the bases loaded
Ian Stewart delivered the defining moment of the game with a clutch three RBI double to right center that energized the dugout and gave the Green and Gold a 3–2 lead. Spitler followed right behind with another extra base hit driving in Stewart to cap a four run outburst.
From there starting pitcher
Wyatt Madison took control on the mound. CUI held APU scoreless in four of the final five innings consistently shutting down scoring opportunities. A key stretch came in the middle innings where CUI retired nine of ten batters and prevented any sustained rallies. Madison turned in his first complete game performance going seven innings while allowing seven hits and three runs with five strikeouts.
CUI will be on the road for the last series of the PacWest conference series against Fresno Pacific and start play on Friday Apr. 24 at 2 p.m.
To see the full CUI baseball schedule click
HERE.
