One Inning Away From A Sweep In The MIAC Opener

ST. PETER, Minn. (3/29/26)--- Concordia was one inning away from a sweep in its conference-opening doubleheader at Gustavus. The Cobbers used the strong arm of Brayden Wolfgram to grab a 4-1 win in the opener but then conceded eight runs in the seventh inning of Game 2 and lost 10-4.

The split in the first games for the Cobbers since their return from Florida moves CC's record to 6-9 on the year. The Gusties are now 8-8 in their first 16 games of the season.
 
Game 1 – Concordia 4, Gustavus 1
Concordia used a 3-run fourth inning and another strong pitching performance from Wolfgram to earn the victory in the opener.

After three scoreless innings, the Cobbers broke through in the top of the fourth. Jake Gruebele opened the rally with a single and eventually scored on a two-strike RBI single from Zack Ehnstrom to put Concordia on the board. The Cobbers added two more runs in the inning, scoring on a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded and an RBI single from Luke Knudsen, building a 3–0 lead.

Gustavus pushed across an unearned run in the fifth, but Concordia quickly answered in the sixth. Alex Anderson drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on Ehnstrom's RBI double down the right-field line, extending the advantage to 4–1.

That was more than enough support for Wolfgram, who was named the MIAC Pitcher of the Week on Mar. 3. He was dominant from start to finish in his first collegiate complete game. Wolfgram allowed just one unearned run on six hits while striking out two. He faced the minimum through several stretches of the game and did not issue a walk, earning his second win of the season.

Wolfgram lowered his ERA to 3.27 on the season. He has pitched 22.0 innings and has a 1.18 WHIP.

At the plate, Knudsen and Ehnstrom led the Cobber offense with two hits apiece. Ehnstrom drove in two runs, while Knudsen also collected an RBI. Anderson reached base twice and scored two of Concordia's four runs as the Cobbers made the most of their scoring opportunities.

Game 2 – Concordia 4, Gustavus 10
The Cobbers led for the first 6.5 innings but then the 8-run seventh frame snatched the sweep away from CC.

Knudsen and Jack Primus staked Concordia to a 3-0 lead after two frames as they knocked out home runs which accounted for three of CC's four runs in the game.

Concordia built an early lead but couldn't withstand a decisive seventh inning as Gustavus Adolphus pulled away for a 10–4 victory in the nightcap.

The Cobbers struck first in the opening inning when Knudsen launched a solo home run to give Concordia a 1–0 lead. CC added to the advantage in the second as Primus followed with a two‑run long ball, scoring Tanner Nowacki and pushing the lead to 3–0.

After Gustavus plated a run in the third, Concordia responded again in the sixth. With the bases loaded, Knudsen grounded out to second base, driving in Nowacki to extend the Cobber lead to 4–1.

Concordia pitching held the Gusties in check through six innings, but momentum swung sharply in the bottom of the seventh. Gustavus sent 11 batters to the plate and scored eight runs in the inning, using five hits, three walks and a hit batter to flip the game. The rally erased the Cobbers' lead and put the game out of reach.

Gustavus added another run in the eighth to cap the scoring.

Knudsen led Concordia offensively, finishing 1‑for‑5 with a home run and two RBI. Primus also drove in two runs with his second‑inning homer and went 2‑for‑4 at the plate. Wolfgram traded his pitching glove for a bat and collected two hits, while Drew Dorsey and Mason Henry added singles.

On the mound, Ben Trutwin gave Concordia a solid start, allowing one run over four innings while striking out five. Caleb Johnson worked into the seventh before the big inning, and James Fry closed out the final frames.

Concordia was outhit 10-7 in Game 2 but held a 3-2 edge in extra base hits.

The spring sprint gets into full swing for the Cobbers as they host St. John's in the home opener on Monday, Mar. 30 at 2:30 p.m.