March 26, 2008

Bismarck, ND – Tyler Liffrig hit two home runs and the Marauders pounded out four extra base hits to none for the Cobbers, but it was Concordia College that grabbed a 6-5 win over the University of Mary.

An offensive force for U-Mary in the game, Liffrig went 3-for-4 at the plate, adding a double to his two homers. He scored three times and drove in three runs. A sophomore first baseman from Williston, ND, Liffrig now has four home runs in his last four games. He is second on the team with five homers this season.

In the home opener for U-Mary, the Marauders fought from behind all day and could never catch the Cobbers. While both teams had eight hits, Concordia also benefitted from eight U-Mary walks and a hit batter.

The Cobbers started hot as their first six batters of the game reached base, three on singles and three by walk. With the bases loaded, Concordia catcher Kyle Johnson hit a two-run single to plate the Cobbers first runs of the day A wild pitch followed and Concordia led 3-0 after half an inning.

In the second inning, Liffrig blasted his first home run of the game to close the Marauders to within 3-1. After Concordia scored another run in the top of the fourth inning, Liffrig led off the bottom of the inning with a double. A one-out Casey Gray single scored Liffrig to make the score 4-2.

Concordia expanded its lead in the seventh. After loading the bases on two bunt singles and a walk, Johnson hit another run-scoring single and Drew Zimmerman walked with the bases loaded to force in the sixth run of the day for the Cobbers.

The Marauders made a run at the Cobbers in the seventh. After singles by Andy Leer and Dan Eichele, NSIC Player of the Week Mike Feldman drove in one run with a sacrifice fly. Liffrig then followed with a two-run home run to close the lead to 6-5. U-Mary would get no closer, stranding two runners on base in the eighth and one in the ninth.

Adam Johnson earned the win for Concordia. He struck out nine and allowed two runs on four hits in seven innings. Kyle Johnson had two hits and three RBI and Michael Carlson was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Eichele was 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored for U-Mary.

The Marauders fall to 5-13 with the loss. Concordia improves to 7-4.

U-Mary is next in action this weekend when the Marauders host Southwest Minnesota State in doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday, March 29-30, in Northern Sun play.