May 2, 2006

Box Score

NEWARK, NJ - Sam Golubov singled home Matt Shelley in the top of the ninth inning, providing the winning run for Concordia in a back-and-forth 8-7 non-conference baseball win over New Jersey Institute of Technology Tuesday night at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium.

The win evened Concordia's season record at 23-23, while the Highlanders, playing their final regular season non-conference contest, are 20-16.

NJIT had scored twice in the bottom of the eighth, tying the score at 7-7, before Shelley singled with one out and went all the way to third after his sinking line drive got away for a two-base error in center field. Golubov followed with a single, sending home Shelley to break the tie.

Shelley, Concordia's leadoff man, was 3-for-5 on the day, while Golubov's game-winning RBI came on his only hit of the game. Clipper catcher Rich Darrell rapped out two clutch triples, finishing 2-for-4, with two runs batted in.

For NJIT, Rob Forbes and Jeff Potter, who were among six seniors honored in pre-game ceremonies, got two hits apiece to lead the Highlanders' eight-hit offense. Each man drove in a run. The biggest hit of the night for NJIT was a two-out, two-run, game-tying triple by pinch hitter Matt Schlitter in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The winning pitcher for Concordia was Eddie Martinez (1-1), who started and lasted into the ninth inning, despite a high pitch count. He allowed 8 hits and 7 runs (6 earned), striking out 10 and walking four. Akeem Watson, who got the last two outs and stranded the potential tying run at third base, picked up the save.

Cory Kuzmik was the losing pitcher, allowing the unearned winning run in his only inning. He was the fourth pitcher of four NJIT pitchers, who combined to yield two earned runs.

Concordia grabbed a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, combining two hits, a walk and two NJIT errors for three unearned runs. The Highlanders answered with two runs in their half of the first, as Mike Turner and Potter each drove in runs.

NJIT went ahead with two more tallies in the bottom of the second, thanks to a two-run single by another of the six seniors, Justin Racz.

Both starting pitchers--Martinez and NJIT's Matt Melody--settled down and the score stayed 4-3 for the Highlanders until the top of the fifth inning, when Darrell led off with a triple and scored on Shelley's infield hit. NJIT turned a beautiful 4-6-3 double play, before Kevin Hickey tripled and then scored on a passed ball.

Concordia stretched its lead to 7-4 in the top of the sixth inning, as Darrell hit a two-run, two-out triple. The Highlanders got their only unearned run of the night, closing the score to 7-5 after seven innings and setting up the finish. NJIT's remaining regular season contests are re-scheduled Central Atlantic College Conference doubleheaders to be played at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium. First up is a noon twinbill on Saturday against USP, followed by a May 10 doubleheader against Nyack (time to be announced).