Gravdahl Sets School Record In MIAC Opener At St. John's

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (4/02/22)---Concordia rode the momentum rollercoaster in its conference opener at St. John's.

The Cobbers trailed early in the opener, but then rode an 8-run sixth inning to take a 2-run lead and seize control of the momentum. The Johnnies tied the game and then retook the momentum in extra innings with a lone run in the bottom of the eighth. Concordia couldn't get the momentum back in the second game and lost 9-8 (8 inn.) and 6-0 in Collegeville.

The two losses put an end to the Cobbers' 3-game win streak. Concordia is now 5-6 on the season. St. John's wins for the fifth time in the last six games and is 11-10 overall.

Concordia gave up three runs in each of the first two innings, but then responded with their biggest inning of the year when they scored eight times in the fifth inning to take an 8-6 lead. The Cobbers sent 12 batters to the plate in the innings and pounded out six hits to score the eight runs.

The biggest hit of the frame came from senior Andy Gravdahl who drove a 1-out triple into the right-center gap that plated three runs. Jake Christianson and Carter Mulcahy had RBI singles in the inning, while Thomas Horan brought home a run on a walk and Matt Gruber came through with a sacrifice fly to left field. Max Boran and Isaac Henkemeyer-Howe had the other base knocks in the inning.

The Johnnie would tie the game in the bottom of the fifth inning on a 2-run homer to right field.

The Cobbers got single hits in each of the sixth and seventh frames, before St. John's won it in the eighth with a leadoff walk, sacrifice bunt and a single to right field.

Concordia was outhit 11-10 in Game 1. Gravdahl and Henkemeyer-Howe were both 2-for-4 to lead the CC offense.

The Cobbers split the pitching duties in the opener. Mitch Porter went the first 4.0 innings and allowed sic earned runs on six hits and struck out one. Freshman Dylan Inniger closed out the final 3.1 innings. He gave up three earned runs on five hits and fanned a pair of batters.

The start of Game 2 was almost a carbon copy of the opener. St. John's put up six runs in the first three innings to take a 6-0 lead. Unfortunately for CC, there would be no multi-run inning in the middle of the game.

Concordia had two hits in the finale. Boran had a single through the right side in the fifth inning and Mulcahy recorded a 1-out double in the seventh stanza.

Ashwin Stratton got the start on the bump in Game 2. He went 4.0 innings and allowed three earned runs on six hits and posted 6 Ks. Kyle Cluff and Jack Naugle both pitched scoreless innings and didn't conceded a hit.

TRIPLE THREAT: Gravdahl's 3-run triple in the fifth in Game 1 gave him the school record for triples in a career. He entered the game tied in that category with 11 3-baggers. The triple was also Gravdahl's team-leading third of the season. His three RBI gives him 12 for the season which leads CC. He also has a team-best three multi-RBI games in 2022.

.500 HITTER: Henkemeyer-Howe leads the Cobbers with a .500 average this season. His two hits in the opener was his sixth multi-hit game of the year. Henkemeyer-Howe was held hitless for the first time in his college career in game 2.

TROUBLE OUT OF THE GATE: Concordia allowed a combined seven runs in the first inning on Saturday. That continues the season theme of slow starts for CC. The Cobbers have been outscored 18-5 in the first inning in their 11 games this year.

TAKING THE FIFTH: The Cobbers' big fifth inning in the opener also carried on a season-long theme. Concordia's best inning so far in 2022 has been the fifth where they have outscored their opponents by a combined total of 15-6.    

UP NEXT: Concordia will host its home opener when they battle Hamline in a doubleheader on Tuesday, Apr. 5 starting at 2:30 at Bucky Burgau Field.