Concordia University took both ends of a doubleheader Saturday in Irvine, Calif.,defeating Biola 5-2 and 10-6 to sweep the series. The losses drop the Eagles back to fourth place in the Golden State Athletic Conference with a 10-10 record.
Concordia takes early lead
Concordia took a one run lead into the fourth inning of game one before senior designated hitter Nick Covyeau singled home the tying run, extending his hit streak to a team-leading 10 games.
The lead was surrendered right back in the bottom half of the inning, however, as Concordia second baseman Spencer Ofelt led off the inning with a solo shot off junior starting pitcher Nick Turner. Ofelt added two more RBIs in the fifth, when his double plated a pair of runs.
Ofelt led the Concordia offense in game one, going 2-for-3 with four RBIs and a home run.
Turner, who suffered his fourth loss of the year, gave up five runs on 10 hits in his 6.2 innings pitched.
Javier Martinez pitched game two for the Eagles and was roughed up early as he allowed five of the first six batters to reach base. He lasted just one inning, giving up five runs on seven hits before being pulled for senior right-hander Kevin Ryan.
Martinez falls to 2-3 on the year with the loss.
Concordia piles on runs in first three innings
Concordia eventually opened up a 7-1 lead by the third inning, thanks largely in part to designated hitter Dave Peterson and first baseman Aaron Gates, who had two RBIs each in the first three frames.
Biola made a mild comeback attempt in the top of the seventh when a string of pinch hitters were inserted into the lineup. Freshman infielder Michael Chriss, junior catcher Wes Cottier and sophomore outfielder Sage Poland all had RBIs in the inning before senior second baseman Dustin Williams grounded out to end the game.
Junior center fielder Benji Sutherland, along with making two spectacular catches in the field, extended his hit streak to ten games, going 4-for-8 in Saturday afternoon’s games.
Covyeau also registered a hit in game two, extending his streak to eleven.
The Eagles will play a non-conference game at California State University Dominguez Hills on Tuesday before starting a four-game series at Fresno Pacific University on Thursday, April 12.
