GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — Concordia University (Mich.) scored 13 unanswered runs in rallying to a 13-5 win at Tusculum University Thursday afternoon at Pioneer Park in the inaugural meeting between the two programs.
The Cardinals (9-4) recorded 11 hits including a 3-for-5 performance by Andre Hutchins. Josh Burke finished with a pair of doubles and two RBI, while Drew Fleming added a pair of hits including his three-run homer in the seventh inning to put the game out of reach.
Tusculum (9-10) also recorded 11 hits on the day as Zane Keener went 3-for-5 including his fifth double of the season. Ben Scartz and Murphy Floodalso had two-hit outings for the Pioneers.
Concordia reliever Trey Acker (2-0) pitched 3.2 shutout innings to record the victory as he scattered three hits, two walks and three strikeouts. The Cardinals also got two shutout innings from Dave Rosmys and a one shutout frame from Kyle Winslow. TU relief pitcher Mason Huffstickler (0-1) suffered the loss.
The Pioneers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning needing only two hits. TU got a RBI single from Scartz, Omar Carreras was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Avery Collins drove in the final run of the frame with his sacrifice fly.
Concordia answered with two runs in the second as Hutchins had a RBI single and Justin Kozlowski laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to trim the deficit to one (3-2).
The Cardinals scored four times in the fourth inning including pinch-hitter Kyle Hebner’s two-run single to drive in the tying and go-ahead runs. Concordia added a run in the fifth, two in the sixth and four more in the seventh to push the lead out to 13-3.
The Pioneers plated two runs in the ninth as Scartz and pinch-hitter Caleb Mulcahy led off with back-to-back doubles. Catcher Jack Gagen added a RBI single to cap Tusculum’s scoring.
TU used eight pitchers in the contest and got one shutout inning from Caid Sanders, Scout Martin and Jake McKenna.
Tusculum returns to action on Sunday when they host Mars Hill University. Game time has yet to be determined.
