By Tim Peterson
(Azusa) – Azusa Pacific opened up a 10-0 lead after two innings but let it get away in a 13-11 loss to Concordia Friday at the Cougar Baseball Complex.
The Cougars got seven runs in the first inning and added three more in the second and seemed to be cruising up 10-0. But the Eagles chipped away scoring 11 runs over the next four innings including four in the fifth and for more in the sixth to take an 11-10 lead. It was a lead they never relinquished.
In the first inning the first seven batters reached base for Azusa Pacific, six on hits and the other on an error. Diego Orozco capped the seven-run outburst with a two-run home run. Blake Hagerty also had a two-run double in the inning and Jacob Freer, Bryce Robinette, Tyler Preece and Isaiah Rios all had hits and scored in the first.
The Cougars added three more in the second when Rios singled to drive in Preece and Aeden Alexander walled to force in a run. Steven Lukasiewicz also drove in a run with an infield hit. Jacob Hayes had a single in the inning as well and the Cougars were up 10-0.
APU was held scoreless over the next five innings as Concordia rallied.
Trailing 10-3 heading into the fifth inning, Concordia came up with four to get close. Landry Spitler walked and Isaiah Walls doubled him home. Wyatt Madison hit a two-run homer to right and Dylan Knowles followed with a shot that was last seen traveling through orbit east towards Marie Callenders. The back-back jacks cut the APU lead to 10-7.
The Eagles came right back with four in the sixth to take the lead. Spitler singled to score David Baruch II and Iasiah Walz to plate Ian Stewart. Knowles’ sacrifice fly scored Spitler and Madison scored on a passed ball to give Concordia an 11-10 lead.
Azusa Pacific had a chance to tie it in the bottom of the sixth but Lukasiewicz was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
Nicolas Erickson hit a bomb for Concordia in the eighth to make it 12-10.
The Cougars got one back in the bottom of the eighth when Jacob Hayes doubled home Preece who had doubled to lead off the inning. But Concordia added one more in the ninth on a couple of hits and a wild pitch to secure the victory.
The Cougars had two runners in the bottom of the ninth with two out but Caden Miller was able to close it out for Concordia.
Each team used three pitchers. Dominic Nunes worked five and one-third innings for Concordia in relief of Shane Timmons to pick up the victory. Miller got the save.
Joel Tornero started for Azusa Pacific and worked five innings allowing nine runs and eight hits. David O’Neill and Matthew Brock went two innings each to finish it out. O’Neill suffered the defeat.
Concordia also won the second game 7-0.
With the two losses the Cougars fell to 23-25 overall and 20-16 in the PacWest Conference.
C 0 0 1 2 4 4 0 1 2 13
A 7 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 11
Loading ...
Leave a Reply