Baseball
 

March 10, 2009

Concordia Evens Season Series With Tiger Baseball Team

San Antonio - The Concordia University (Texas) Tornados evened their season series with the Tigers by a 7-3 win Tuesday night at E.M. Stevens Field.

Trinity (8-10) had defeated Concordia 14-4 on March 3 at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas. The Tornados improved to 11-8 after Tuesday’s 3-hour, 20-minute game.

Concordia started off with a bang, as left fielder Tom Williams cracked his ninth home run of the season, a two-run shot in the top of the first inning. But Trinity countered with its own round-tripper in the bottom of the second. Sophomore catcher Kyle Felix homered to right center, driving in two runs. It marked the third home run for Felix this season. Felix batted 1 for 4 with two RBIs and scored one run.

The Tornados picked up a run in third inning, to lead 3-2. First baseman Chad Thielpape singled through the left side for the RBI. Thielpape batted 4 for 4 with four RBIs. Concordia increased its lead with one run in the fourth inning, and led 4-2.

Trinity center fielder John Paillet tightened the game with an RBI double down the left field line in the bottom half of the inning. Paillet hit 2 for 3 with one RBI, and smacked two doubles in the game.

After the fourth inning, the Tornados widened their lead with two runs in the seventh. Thielpape was once again instrumental, with a two RBI single. He finished things off with an RBI single in the top of the ninth.

Trinity senior second baseman Jeff Claydon batted 2 for 4. The 24-game hitting streak of senior outfielder Jordan Pennington was halted on Tuesday.

Tiger first-year pitcher Ben Klimesh (0-4) started the game and took the loss. Klimesh struck out six batters in 6 1/3 innings of work. The Tornados Donovan Riggles entered in the third inning and picked up the win, improving to 3-1. Stephen Szkotak, the last Concordia pitcher on the mound, recorded his fourth save of the year..

Concordia scored six earned runs, with nine hits, no errors and eight players left on place. Trinity scored three earned runs, swatted eight hits, made two errors and stranded 10 players.

The Tigers will play Illinois State in the Irish Classic at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The tournament is being held at San Antonio’s Wolff Stadium. Trinity returns home Thursday to host Wabash at 7 p.m.