Bulldogs trot out eight pitchers in 11-5 loss at York
YORK, Neb. – Head coach Jeremy Geidel used eight different pitchers to navigate a nine-inning, 11-5, nonconference loss at York College on Wednesday evening. In saving their top pitchers for four upcoming weekend GPAC games, the Bulldog ‘pen took its lumps as the host Panthers pounded out 17 hits.
Concordia dropped to 14-23 overall. York improved to 24-17.
“Everyone had their opportunities (on the mound) and we only had two zeroes put up,” Geidel said. “It killed us giving up four runs over the first two innings and then four more in the sixth. We just got behind in the counts and they put pressure on us with their hitting.”
After falling behind 4-0 after two innings, the Bulldogs came right back with a four-run third that included a Daniel Wilkerson RBI single and a Cam Gause run-scoring double. The two-bagger extended the red hot Gause’s hitting streak to 11. The Bulldog center fielder went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a run.
York regained the advantage with a run apiece in the third and fourth and then a four spot in the sixth that put the game out of reach. Panther shortstop Anthony Enriquez, a thorn in the Bulldogs’ side all day, singled in the runs in the third and the fourth as part of a 3-for-4, three RBI day.
Concordia freshman left hander Brody Yost started on the mound but gave way to Bryce Rone in the third. Rone hurled one inning and took the loss. Rone was followed out of the bullpen by Matt Chambers (1 IP), Edwin Izumigawa (1 IP), John Jay Silva (0.2 IP), Tim Fosmo (one batter faced), Schafer Thompson (1.1 IP) and Josh Prater (1 IP).
Izumigawa tossed up a zero in the fifth and Prater fired a scoreless eighth.
Wilkerson (2-for-4, RBI, run) and left fielder Erik Ellison (2-for-4, run) joined Gause as Bulldogs with two or more hits. That trio posted seven of the team’s eight hits in the game.
“I thought we swung the bats well considering the conditions,” Geidel said. “Anything in the air was going to get caught with the way the wind was blowing in.
“It was a two-run game until the sixth and our defense again made some mistakes. York’s a team that if you give them a little bit they will take advantage.”
Mitchell Fletcher tossed 2.2 scoreless innings to pick up his first win of the season. Fletcher relieved starter Dylan Morrow with one out in the top of the fifth.
During his current 11-game hitting streak, Gause is 20-for-42 with five home runs, 15 RBIs and 44 total bases.
The Bulldogs return to GPAC play on Friday when they travel to nearby Doane (34-7, 12-0 GPAC) for a 1 p.m. doubleheader. The Tigers have won 18 games in a row and are ranked 13th nationally.