Apr. 03– Senior Joe Abellera (Minnetonka, Minn.) led off both games of the day with a home run, as ten of the Golden Bears 25 hits were home runs in Concordia's (12-6, 6-2 NSIC) 12-3, 21-8 NSIC wins at Minnesota, Crookston (3-9, 1-6 NSIC) on Thursday afternoon.  It is the third and fourth time in eight NSIC games that Abellera has led off the game with a home run.

Game 1 - CU 12, Minnesota Crookston 3
Joe Abellera gave the Golden Bears a quick lead with a leadoff home run.  Junior Chris Herbert (White Bear Lake, Minn.) followed that two batters later with a three-run shot himself giving Concordia an instant 4-0 lead.

The Golden Bears added three more in the top of the second inning on a three run home run to left field by senior Jake Waldman (Minnetonka, Minn.), giving CU a 7-0 lead.

The Golden Eagles countered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the third inning when UMC strung together three hits, highlighted by a Jordan Triestram three run home run.

That was the only damage the Golden Eagles would inflict as senior Derek Mason (Minnetonka, Minn.) improved to 3-0 on the year. He went the distance allowing just the three runs on six hits, striking out a career-high nine batters while issuing just one walk.

Junior Zane Froelich (Sioux Falls, S.D.) led off the top of the fourth inning with a solo home run to left field. With two outs and runners on first and second, Abellera hit his second home run of the day, with a hit down the left field line giving the Golden Bears a 11-3 lead.

The two teams produced three innings of scoreless baseball before Concordia would manufacture an unearned run.  Jake Schmidt (Jr., Oakdale, Minn.) reached on an error by the third baseman and advanced to second on a balk.  He reached third on a fielder's choice and then would score on a wild pitch.

In the game, Concordia scored their 12 runs on ten hits, with three Golden Eagles errors. 

Game 2 - CU 21, Minnesota Crookston 8
The second game of the day was highlighted by a grand-slam home run by senior John Maciej (Sr., Elk River, Minn.) and a 13 run sixth inning that included back-to-back home runs by Chris Herbert and Zane Froelich.

After Abellera led off game two with a home run to centerfield, Jake Waldman earned a walk and junior Brenden Furrow (Johnston, Iowa) hit his fifth home run of the season giving Concordia a 3-0 lead.  He also extended his hitting streak to 20 games after going 1-4 in the first game.

Minnesota Crookston got two runs back in the bottom of the first on a pair of home runs off of Concordia starter Eric Utoft (Sr., Minnetonka, Minn.).  Utoft allowed five runs, all earned on five hits in four innings. 

Trailing for the first time on the day, the Golden Bears entered the fifth inning down 5-4 but scored four on the Maciej grand slam and reclaimed the lead 8-5. 

The 13 run sixth inning would seal the win as Concordia would send 16 batters to the plate in the inning and score the 13 runs on seven hits, five UMC errors and two walks. 

Eric Utoft earned the win and improved to 2-1 on the year.  Junior Josh Rohrich (Sioux Falls, S.D.) earned his first career save in his first appearance in a Golden Bear uniform.  He allowed one run on two hits in 2.2 innings of work. 

For the game, Concordia tallied 21 runs, topping 20 for the third time this season, on 15 hits with eight UMC errors.

Notes - Brenden Furrow extended his hitting streak to 20 games (18 this season, two last season)

Eight players had at least two hits on the day.  
Joe Abellera went 4-9 with three HR, 5 RBI and 5 runs scored.
Brenden Furrow went 4-9 with a 2B, HR, four RBI and 5 runs scored.
Zane Froelich went 4-9 with a 2B, HR, 4 RBI and 3 runs scored.
Jake Waldman went 3-6 with a home run, 3 RBI and 6 runs scored.
Chris Herbert went 3-6 with a 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI and 3 runs scored.