Late-Game, 8-Run Rally Is Just What The Doctor Ordered

MOORHEAD, Minn. (4/23/26)---The outcome didn't look very sunny for the Cobbers in the seventh of their non-conference home game against UM-Morris. Concordia was down to its last nine outs, trailed 7-1 and was staring at an eighth consecutive game without scoring more than two runs.

Something big happened on the way to all that gloom – the Cobbers broke out a new box of bats, came up with eight runs on eight hits in their final two at-bats and rallied to beat the Cougars 9-8.

It was the largest rally of the season for Concordia and helped them post back-to-back victories for the first time since they opened the MIAC season against St. John's at the end of March.  

Could this be the catalyst for a conference playoff run? Only time will tell.

On a day where the "Wrigley Field" wind was blowing 15-25 mph out to left center field, Concordia waited until the seventh frame to take advantage of the Nor'wester when they started finding gaps caused by the Morris outfielders having to play on the warning track.

The Cobbers only run of the first six innings came in the third when Brady Yourczek laced a leadoff triple to center field and then tied the game at 1-1 on a sacrifice fly from Mason Henry.

The Cougars seemed to take full control of the game when they scored four runs in the sixth and two in the top of the seventh to grab the ominous 7-1 lead.

The bottom of the seventh featured a new pitcher for Morris and the Cobbers took advantage of the UMM bullpen by putting the first five batters of the inning on base and cutting the lead to 7-4 before there was one out in the frame.

Ryan Kloster started the merry-go-round with a leadoff walk. He scored on a double from Yourzek, who scored on a Brayden Wolfgram single and then Henry – who had a double off the base of the center field wall – came home to score on a Luke Knudsen single.

By the time the seventh-inning, Midway ride was finished, the Cobbers had sent 10 batters to the plate, knocked out six hits and scored six runs to tie the game at a touchdown each.

Concordia completed the comeback win in the eighth with the same combo of Yourczek, Henry and Wolfgram. Yourzek coaxed a leadoff walk and was sacrificed to second by Henry. He then scored on a double off the bat of Wolfgram.

Wolfgram crossed the plate with the eventual winning run on a 2-out base knock from Bryce Binek.

Morris got a solo homer to lead off the top of the ninth but then reliever David Revering mowed down the next three batters to seal the win and record his first collegiate save.

The Cobbers used five pitchers in the non-con game. Alex Claussen got the start and went the first 5.0 innings. Aiden Johnson, Cullen Norland and Clayton Erickson filled the gap before Revering with Erickson getting his first collegiate win by pitching a scoreless eighth inning.

Both teams had nine hits in the game with CC having five players post multiple-hit games. Wolfgram went 3-for-4 with two RBI, Knudsen was 2-for-4, Binek went 2-for-5 with two RBI, Drew Dorsey was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and Yourzek was 2-for-3 with three runs scored.

Henry, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, continues to lead the team in hitting with a .362 average.    

Concordia will look to use the late-game rally momentum when they host Carleton on Saturday, Apr. 25 at 1 p.m. at Bucky "the Grandfather of Minnesota Mr. Hockey" Burgau Field.