RIVER FOREST, Ill. (Apr. 26, 2008) - The last time Edgewood College was beaten twice by the same team included an 18-17 setback to LaGrange College on March 15, where the Eagles squandered a large lead by allowing a 12-run seventh inning. Saturday's doubleheader at Concordia Chicago must have felt uncomfortably familiar. After falling 14-4 to the Cougars in the opener, Edgewood College held a 9-0 lead after two and a half innings, only to see it disappear with a 12-run sixth inning by the Cougars. Concordia Chicago rolled on to a 21-11 victory.
The Eagles were hitting on all cylinders scoring six runs in the top of the first inning, highlighted by Matt Werner's three-run blast, his first home run of the season. Alex Berta also had a two-run double in the frame. Edgewood College (17-13, 9-5 NAC) tacked on a run in the second and two more in the third on Justin Dahmen first career home run as an Eagle.
Concordia Chicago (25-10, 11-6 NAC) began to chip away, scoring in the next three innings to cut the lead to 9-8. Berta smoked a two-run triple to left center in the top of the sixth to make it 11-8, but the wheels fell of the Eagles' train in the bottom half of the inning. The first nine Cougar batters all reached base, six courtesy of bases on balls, and all nine scored. When the dust settled, Concordia Chicago had a 20-11 lead and the sweep was almost certain.
Kyle Lode started the game and extended his streak of innings without allowing an earned run to 27, before a Phil Seris home run in the fourth inning. Bill Dictus (1-3) took the loss, allowing seven runs on three hits and four walks.
In the opening game, a tough pitchers' duel through six innings, gave way to a rout in the final two. Ryan Siebert and Ricky Martinex drove in runs in the fifth inning to tie the game at 3-3. After the Cougars pushed a run across in the bottom of the fourth, Cory McCullick crushed a solo home run to right field to knot the game again at four. However, the Cougars broke through in the seventh scoring two runs, before Zach Bickel hit a grand slam home run to give Concordia Chicago a 11-4 lead.
Eagle starter Cody Flynn (3-3) threw six solid innings before the Cougars got to him in the seventh. Flynn allowed six earned runs on 12 hits and struck out five Cougars.
Edgewood College will have no time lick their wounds as they return to the diamond Sunday for a showdown with NAC leader Rockford College. First pitch is scheduled for noon at Stampfl Field in Verona. The game will be broadcast live on EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com.
