Bulldogs lose twice to Mustangs with costly errors

Senior pitcher Maverick Wylder (32) just after throwing a pitch. 

Photo credit: Courtney Wright (photo from previous game)

By Darien Semedo

The No. 15 Concordia Bulldogs lost twice to the Morningside Mustangs 12-14 and 11-19, despite impressive offense as defensive errors proved to be costly.

The day after Senior Joey Grabanski took hold of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics career home run record, the Bulldogs played two more games against the Mustangs.

In the first game, the Bulldogs could not overcome some costly errors. After jumping out with a 6-0 lead, trouble on defense hurt early. With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the second inning, an error from Grabanski led to three runners scoring on the play. The damage continued, as three hits in a row scored three more unearned runs.

Freshman Matthew Rhoades’ day on the mound ended after that, but one more run came in on a wild pitch making the score 6-8. In the third inning, another error led to two more unearned runs. Grabanski tied the game up 11-11 in the fifth, with a three-run bomb for his 79th career home run, but the Mustangs scored three more in the same inning to close out the Bulldogs.

The second game started slowly, as both starters looked comfortable early. The Bulldogs manufactured three runs through the sixth but broke the game open in the eighth inning. Two hits and a walk loaded the bases for Junior Jaidan Quinn, who was hit by a pitch. Grabanski worked a walk for a run before a sacrifice fly brought in another run. Another walk scored before the end of the inning to give the Bulldogs a 7-4 lead.

Junior Christian Gutierrez got the start and allowed only four runs through the first seven innings but was lit up in the eighth inning. Gutierrez allowed a leadoff walk, then two straight hits before being replaced by Maverick Wylder. Wylder then gave up a hit that turned into an inside the park home run after another defensive error. Three straight singles loaded the bases and turned into three more runs scoring, taking a 11-7 lead into the top of the ninth.

Quinn hit a two-run bomb, but it was not enough as the Bulldogs dropped both games. After moving up in the NAIA coaches’ poll, the Bulldogs dropped three of four, and are now tied with the Mustangs for second in the GPAC standings. The team will now turn their attention to Jamestown (25-11, 11-7) for a double header on the road.

Notable offensive performances:

Jay Adams: 5-8, 2 RBI, 4 runs

Joey Grabanski: 3-9 ,1 HR, 4 RBI

Jaidan Quinn: 6-10, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 6 runs

Matthew Rhoads: 2-7, 3 RBI, 3 BB

Notable pitching performances:

Jacob Lycan: 1.0 IP, 1 K

Ernie Snyder: 1.0 IP