Alex Bos allowed just five hits while pitching CU's third complete game of the year.
Menlo Outduels Concordia to Even Series
Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore.—In a pitching duel between Menlo College’s Burke Seifrit and Concordia’s Alex Bos, the visiting Oaks defeated CU 2-1 on Sunday afternoon to even the weekend series.
Concordia (20-23, 11-13 NAIA West) won the first two matchups by a single run (1-0, 4-3) before Menlo (27-16, 16-8 NAIA W.) responded with a 4-1 in Saturday’s second game of the twinbill. In the third one-run game of the series, Seifrit struck out seven while allowing just four hits to lead the Oaks to a road split against the Cavaliers.
Kyer Vega picked up the save for the Oaks after manning first base for the first eight innings.
With Seifrit retiring the first 13 batters he faced, Menlo snagged the lead in the third inning after a leadoff single from Coleman Cox. Cox hustled to second on a sacrifice bunt by No. 8 batter John Bowling and took off to third on an infield grounder of the bat of Mickey Phelps. With two outs on the board, Cox completed the tour of the basepaths after a CU error on a slow grounder to second.
A single by Daniel Comstrock to lead off the seventh turned into Menlo’s second score of the game. Comstrock belted a hit through the middle, just the third hot allowed by Bos to that point, and stole second to put give the Oaks a runner in scoring position.
Corey Motoyer gave Menlo runners at the corners with a single to right which setup a sacrifice fly to left by Michael Brandi. The Oaks looked to add a second insurance run on a deep drive to left-center only to see the Cavaliers come up with the defensive play of the day. Leftfielder Jimmy Sanchez initially tracked the shot and got a glove on the ball with a diving effort.
From there, the ball popped up out of Sanchez’ glove where Blake Drake, sprinting over from center field, was able to corral the loose sphere for the rare assisted fly to the outfield. Not done with the play, Drake fired the ball back into the infield to double-up Metoyer at first base.
Energized by the defense, CU’s offense came alive in the home half of the seventh, loading the bases in three at bats to start the frame. Cole Shidaki opened the attack with a single to right and was followed by a double in nearly the same location by Carl Beckert.
Facing adversity for the first time, Seifrit walked Jared Young, only his second free pass of the day, to give the Cavs runners on each base.
Seifrit was able to minimize the damage with a double play which allowed Shidaki to scamper home for a 2-1 spread. Now with two outs and a runner at third, Seifrit induced a popup to second base to preserve the lead.
The Cavs managed just one additional baserunner in the final two stanzas, a harmless one-out walk to Shidaki in the ninth.
Bos went on to complete the game for CU, allowing just the two runs (one unearned) and five hits. Box struck out three and walked one in the nine-inning outing.
Concordia will return to action on Tuesday when it steps out of league play with a single game at Pacific University. Opening pitch is set for 6 p.m. in Forest Grove, Ore. The Cavaliers will host the Boxers the following Tuesday before concluding the regular season with a four-game set at The College of Idaho (April 26-27).