(March 15, 2008 - Mishawaka, Indiana) -- The infield dirt was extremely soft and the grass was bumpy a treacherous to maneuver. But after two straight weeks practicing indoors, the Concordia baseball team was simply glad to be back on the diamond playing games. After extending their longest winning streak ever to seven games with a win in the first game at Bethel, the Cards came out flat in the second and fell to the Pilots 7-2 in the nightcap as they lost their first game of the season and sit at 7-1 overall.

 

The first game wasn't a clinic in defensive prowress as the two teams combined for eight total errors.

 

Concordia jumped out first with a run in the opening half-inning as Alex Hoover (Sr. - Shelbyville, Mich.) singled in Ben Sprague (Jr. - DeWitt, Mich.) with two outs. Sprague had singled earlier and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Bethel starting pitcher Lance Schrock.

 

The Cards adding a trio of runs in the following inning as Blake Edwards (Jr. - Lathrup Village, Mich.) and Tim McEvoy (Jr. - Detroit, Mich.) started the frame with back-to-back singles. After Zane Johnston (So. - Ionia, Mich.) moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt, an error by Pilot shortstop Nelson Sanchez off the bat of Tony Pounders (So. - Livonia, Mich.) allowed both Edwards and McEvoy to score and Pounders to move up to second. A single by Zach Johnston (So. - Ionia, Mich.) would score Pounders and the Cards would have a 4-0 lead heading to the bottom of the second.

 

Concordia scratched out another tally in the third to give themselves a 5-0 margin. With two outs, Edwards walked and moved to second on a McEvoy single. On a peculiar play, Zane Johnston singled and Edwards, who ran through the stop sign by third base coach Rob Baker, benefitted when the Pilot first baseman threw the ball to the backstop allowing Edwards to score unscathed.

 

All-the-while, starting pitcher Drew Linder (Sr. - Bellevue, Ohio) was cruising as he held the Pilots to only two hits through the first three innings.

 

Bethel would mount a comeback as they would score an unearned run in the fourth and a pair of runs in the fifth off Linder. The Pilots would continue to make it interesting as the scored a single run in the sixth off of Justin Gauthier (Sr. - Muskegon, Mich.) to make the game 5-4 heading to the seventh.

 

After Aaron Hacias (Jr. - Sterling Heights, Mich.) reached on another Sanchez error Hoover was walked. Mike Music (Fr. - Utica, Mich.) would come in to run for Hacias and after both runners were advanced on an Adam Goodwin (Jr. - Portland, Mich.) sacrifice bunt, Jose Paez (So. - Grand Blanc, Mich.) replaced Hoover as the  runner at second. Edwards would be intentionally walked and McEvoy would strike for his third hit of the game scoring Music. Zane Johnston would knock in Paez with a sacrifice fly to left to give the Cards a 7-4 cushion.

 

Sprague came on to close out the game for the Cardinals stranding runners at second and third by striking out Victor Odreman for the final out to preserve the win giving Sprague his second save of the season. Linder (2-0) picked up the victory.

 

The second game was a lethargic effort by the Cardinals as they fell behind early by surrendering a pair of runs to Bethel in the second inning.

 

Down 2-0, the Cards scored a run in the third but they were their own worst enemy as the let an opportunity to score more slip away. After Sprague reached on a one-out error, he was thrown on when Hacias failed to connect on a hit-and-run. Hoover would double to score Hacias but he was stranded on a Goodwin strike out.

 

After starting pitcher Ryan Stromer (Jr. - Ovid, Mich.) threw a 1-2-3 third inning, the Cards failed to capitalize as again they stranded a runner at second in the fourth.

 

After Stromer pitched a solid fourth, Concordia went 1-2-3 themselves in the fifth. Then the wheels completely came off for Concordia.

 

Bethel scored two runs in the fifth and added a trio of runs in the sixth after Stromer got the first two batters out.

 

Down 7-1 heading to the top of the seventh, the thought of staying unbeaten was in serious jeopardy. However, the Cards showed their grit by putting together a rally, but as was the case all day - committed too many mental errors.

 

With one out, Zane Johnston reached on an error by the Bethel right-fielder. Pounders followed with a single moving Johnston to third. Zach Johnston walked to load the bases and the Cards appeared ready to make a serious bid for a comeback win.

 

Sprague stepped up and blasted a shot to left which fell beyond the outstretched arms of the fielder and the Cards had a great opportunity to really put pressure on the Pilots. Zane Johnston would score easily, but Pounders and Zach Johnston were caught up in poor base running with Pounders being tagged for the second out. On a play where two should have scored and runners at second and third with one out down 7-3, the Cards had two outs and runners at first and second and trailed 7-2. Hacias grounded into a fielder's choice and the game was over.

 

Concordia (7-1) was hoping to get back into action quickly with a pair of games in Cincinnati on Sunday, but those were cancelled due to rain in the area. The Cardinals are still scheduled for two games in Xenia, Ohio on Monday against Cedarville and Urbana.