VERONA – The baseball squad had a dramatic day at Stampfl Field Saturday. They squared off with the Concordia Chicago Cougars in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) doubleheader. The Cougars (11-17, 4-10 NACC) got the better of the Eagles (13-10, 7-3) in a 14-7 game one, but Edgewood College got the last laugh in a 14-13 extra innings walk-off victory in game two.
GAME ONE: CONCORDIA CHICAGO 14, EDGEWOOD COLLEGE 7
- The Cougars offense had a strong and steady opening game, posting at least two runs in six of seven innings. A two-run single to right field in the first and a two-run home run to right field put the visitors on the right foot. They would add on a pair in the third for a 6-0 advantage.
- The Eagles took advantage of shaky pitching and defense to even the game in the bottom of the third.
Jacob Carney took a hit by pitch with the bases loaded to put the hosts on the board, before a wild pitch and a throwing error plated another.
Brevin Brisack doubled to right field for two RBIs before
Xavier Schreiber added another run with a sacrifice fly to left field. Another wild pitch would even things out 6-6 after three.
- Concordia Chicago took back momentum in the fourth. A throwing error by the catcher allowed a run to score, while a single to left field left things at 8-6 after four. A single to shortstop and a two-run home run to center field made it 11-6 in the top of the sixth, while a
Kyle Sagan sacrifice fly to center field netted a run in the bottom of the inning.
- Mistakes in the seventh would put things well out of reach for Edgewood College. A pair of errors on a sacrifice bunt plated one, a sacrifice fly to left field another, and another error would score an unearned run to wrap up the 14-7 affair.
- Brisack hit 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and a double.
- Six Cougars had two or more hits. Elijah Hickman led the way with a 4-for-4 game at the plate with three RBIs, three runs, and a home run.
GAME TWO: EDGEWOOD COLLEGE 14, CONCORDIA CHICAGO 13 (10 INNINGS)
- After an early RBI double down the left line by the Cougars, the Eagles' offense took over.
Terry Tolliver Jr. hit a two-run home run to right field in the bottom of the first, while a miscue on defense by Concordia Chicago helped Edgewood College plate one in the second.
- A Brisack bases-loaded double to right center scored a pair in the third, while
Colby Davis grounded out to shortstop for another. A passed ball brought in another runner for a 7-1 tally through three.
- Errant pitching from the Eagles helped Concordia Chicago cut down their deficit. A wild pitch, a bases-loaded walk, and a bases loaded hit by pitch tallied three runs for the visitors to start the fourth. A fielder's choice to second base followed by a single to left field plated a pair to trim the Edgewood College lead down to 7-6.
- A trio of one-run singles from the Eagles gave them some cushion in the bottom of the fourth. Brisack scored one through the right side,
Dylan Carrington up the middle, and Davis bunted a single towards third base for a 10-6 lead after four.
- The Cougars offense got rolling in the next few innings. They would plate a pair in the fifth, before a seventh inning home run to left center added another two runs to even the game at 10 apiece. A double down the left field line in the eighth would give Concordia Chicago their first lead since the first inning at 11-10.
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Kyle Prindle would even the game in the eighth with an RBI double down the left field line. The Eagles threatened to walk off the game in the ninth with runners on second and third, but a close call on a groundout sent the teams into extras.
- The Cougars were poised to put away the hosts for good in the top of the tenth. A wild pitch plated one, while a sacrifice fly to center field left them ahead 13-11.
- Edgewood College would not be denied again. Prindle doubled to left field to cut the edge to 13-12 before Brisack walked off the Eagles with a two-RBI double down the left field line.
- Brisack hit 3-for-6 with five RBIs. Carrington and Prindle each hit 3-for-5, while Prindle and Tolliver each had three runs apiece.
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Alek Zdziarski was the star of the show, earning the victory and steadying Edgewood College on the mound with no earned runs and a pair of strikeouts in 2.2 innings pitched.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Eagles had nine walks in game one, a season high.
- Zdziarski's appearance on the mound in game two was his first at Edgewood College.
- Edgewood College leads the NACC with 14 triples. The mark is currently tied for third on the all-time season list with the 2006 team.
UP NEXT
The Eagles will wrap up their busy week with a doubleheader in Fond Du Lac, Wis. tomorrow. They will take on the Marian Sabres in more NACC action. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
