#17 Bulldogs Defeat Broncos in Pair of Close Games

(Seward, NE) – Taking on the #17 Concordia Bulldogs on the road in a make-up doubleheader on Monday, the Broncos hung tight in a 4-1 loss in game one, then came up short in the 3-1 game two loss.

Concordia struck first in the opening inning, as they led off with a single that eventually came around to score on a one-out RBI groundout to second.

The Broncos tied it up in the third inning thanks to a leadoff walk by senior Alliskair Descartes. Junior Jaden Stone changed places with Descartes on a fielder's choice and advanced to second when junior Jace Valdez reached first on an error. Sophomore Jared Delgado brought home Stone on a single to left, making it 1-1.

With one out in the bottom of the third, the Bulldogs took first on a Hastings error and second on a wild pitch. Concordia then hit back-to-back doubles to bring in two runs and go back up, 3-1. The Bulldogs added to the lead with a solo home run to begin the fourth, going up 4-1.

Hastings' best chance to score after the third came in the fifth when junior Coletin Renn began the inning with a single. Descartes bunted Renn over to second, but Concordia got a strikeout and a groundout to strand the runner and eventually took the 4-1 win.

Game two was another low-scoring game in which the Bulldogs took an early lead. In the second inning, Concordia's first two batters reached on walks and later scored their first run on a sac fly to go up 1-0. Hastings had a chance to respond in the next half inning, having two on with one out, as well as the bases loaded and out, but Concordia got strikeouts in both situations.

The Bulldogs continued their offensive momentum in the third, walking to lead off the inning and blasting a home run to right to take a 3-0 lead, a score that would hold until the seventh.

Hastings made it very close late, with Descartes reaching first on an error to start the seventh inning. After a lineout and a strikeout, Delgado singled to center, advancing pinch-running senior Matt Lucero to second with two out. Senior Elijah Merritt came through with an RBI single to center to make it 3-1, but Concordia got a groundout to hold on for the win.

The Broncos pitching staff of freshman Alex Wilson, junior Aaron Elgersma, and freshman Albert Broussard held Concordia to three runs on four hits. They finished with six strikeouts in game two despite the loss. Valdez led the Broncos at the plate, finishing with three hits in his four at-bats.

Up next, Hastings will play a doubleheader at Briar Cliff on Saturday, April 12, starting at 1pm.