RAMS SPLIT SEASON OPENER
February 4, 2007

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

AUSTIN, TX:  The Concordia University-Austin baseball team (1-2) capitalized on two Texas Wesleyan University (1-1) errors in the second inning to plate four runs on their way to defeating the Rams 6-4 in Texas Wesleyan’s season opener.  The Rams responded by taking game two of the doubleheader 5-2 on the strength of a three-run homer from JR Phelps.

In game one, the Rams dug a 4-0 hole in the second.  Johnathan Bounds led off the frame with a home run to right field.  Two Texas Wesleyan errors led to the Tornado’s next three runs.

Senior third baseman Jason Diaz got the Rams offense on track when he led off the fourth inning with a home run.  One batter later, Josh Vander Hey was hit by a pitch and later scored on a Billie Hicks home run that brought the score to 4-3.

The Tornados came right back with a run in the bottom of the fourth.  Diaz provided another offensive spark in the sixth, when he led off with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Brandon Frazier.

Concordia got that run back in the eighth on an RBI single from Mitchell.  The Rams got runners on base in the eighth and ninth, but could not push another run across.

Landon Newton (0-1) took the loss for Texas Wesleyan, allowing five runs (two earned) on five hits in 3.1 innings pitched.  Hayden Lackey struck out six in 4.2 innings of work.

Concordia’s Szostak improved to 1-0 after allowing four runs on four hits in six innings pitched.

Diaz and Hicks combined for four of the Rams’ six hits.  Diaz went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.  Hicks went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.

In game two, Concordia plated the first run of the game in the bottom of the first.  JR Phelps put the Rams on top to stay with a three-run bomb in the top of the second.

Caleb Thomas (1-0) allowed two runs (one earned) in five innings of work to take the win.  Jesse Wright earned his first career save in his first game after missing last season to injury.