LOVES PARK, Ill. (May 12, 2007) -- Edgewood College was eliminated from the 2007 Northern Athletics Conference Baseball Tournament on Saturday after the Eagles (26-13) lost their first game in the Final Round to Concordia University Chicago, 7-2, from RiverHawks Stadium. Brandon Isaac’s grand slam home run in the top of the ninth inning all but sealed the Cougars’ victory.

Like Friday’s late game, the Eagles were plagued by errors and miscues, particularly in the early frames. In the first two innings alone, Concordia Chicago (27-15-1) was the benefactors of four Edgewood College errors, three passed balls, two hit batsmen and a pair of walks. Despite the sloppy start, the Eagles and starting pitcher Rick Walsh (Green Lake, Wis.) found themselves down only 2-0.

Edgewood College had their chances offensively, but left four runners stranded on the base paths through seven innings. Erik Massey (Cottage Grove, Wis.) led off the bottom of the eighth with a walk. Karl Reynolds (Dodgeville, Wis.) singled with one out and stole second base to get two runners in scoring position for Cory McCullick (Hudson, Ill.), who drove in both Massey and Reynolds to knot the score at 2-2.

Walsh walked a batter and hit another to start the top of the ninth, followed by a single by Jack Walker to load the bases. Zach Bickel laced a single to right field for the go-ahead run before Isaac, the Cougars cleanup hitter, blasted his four-run homer off the top of the right field wall.

Although the loss eliminates Edgewood College from the NAC Tournament, the Eagles season may not yet be over. Pairing for the NCAA Division III Tournament will be announced Monday.