Nichlson, McGhee post pitching gems in CU-CI split

4/12/2014 7:45:00 PM

PORTLAND, Ore. –Striking out 12 batters in a 7-2 win in the nightcap, Concordia starter Harrison McGhee (Ramona, Calif./Ramona H.S.) led the Cavaliers to a Saturday split after an earlier 2-1 loss to College of Idaho in an NAIA West doubleheader played at Porter Park.

Concordia (20-18, 10-12 NAIA W) and College of Idaho (23-15, 14-8 NAIA W) will conclude its four-game series with a doubleheader on Sunday. Opening pitch is set for 11 a.m. with Concordia celebrating its senior class in between games.

Game 1: College of Idaho 2, Concordia 1

After giving up a run in the second, College of Idaho starter Taylor Nicholson held Concordia at bay for the next four innings while reliever Mitch Viydo closed out the final two frames for a 2-1 win in the opener.

Coming up empty with the bases loaded in the first, Concordia opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly to centerfield by Mike Egami (Moanalua, Hawaii/Moanalua H.S.) that scored Cole Buruse (Ridgefield, Wash./Skyview H.S.) after Buruse crushed a double to right and advanced to third on a Ben Talbot (Lacey, Wash./Timberline H.S.) single.

The Yotes loaded the bases in their next at bat, but followed suit by coming up short as CU starter Jason Snodgrass (Ramona, Calif./Ramona H.S.) produced an inning-ending double play to short.

College of Idaho broke through in the fourth with a one-out walk by Jordan Grubbs turning into a score with advancement on a grounder to second by Nick Muncy and a two-out single to left by Jake Hennessey.

Now tied at 1-1, Snodgrass retired the next nine C of I batters, five of which via a strikeout, before a leadoff single by Brady Mooney turned into the eventual game-winning run off a single to center field by Mitch Skaggs. Prior to the Skaggs RBI, Mooney was successfully moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by C of I leadoff hitter Troy Carr.

Snodgrass took the loss after allowing two runs on six hits over 8.0 innings of work. Snodgrass also allowed two walks and struck out nine. Nicholson earned the win, surrendering one run over 7.0 innings of work before Viydo picked up his second save of the season.

Game 2: Concordia 7, College of Idaho 2

Given a four-run lead in the first, CU starter Harrison McGhee (Ramona, Calif./Ramona H.S.) cruised to his fourth win of the season by retiring 16 of the first 17 batters he faced with the lone blip a popup to right which turned into a double as the ball was lost in eth sun by the CU outfield.

McGhee was electric from the start, striking out the side in the first before registering a dozen strikeouts. McGhee's strikeout total matched a season best and represented the fifth time this season the sophomore righthander has struck out at least 10 batters.

Mike Egami (Moanalua, Hawaii/Moanalua H.S.) provided the biggest offensive lift in the offensive spree in eth first inning by scoring two on a double down the left-field line. Blake Evetts (Tigard, Ore./Jesuit H.S.) and Ian Erickson (Astoria, Ore./Astoria H.S.) connected on singles before Egami's at bat while Cole Buruse (Ridgefield, Wash./Skyview H.S.) drove in Egami with a double of his own, this time to right field.

The Cavaliers added another run in the bottom of the second and two more in the bottom of the fifth with Evetts, Egami and Buruse adding to their RBI totals.

The Yotes only runs of the game came in the sixth inning as Mitch Skaggs singled to center field to score both Troy Carr and Brady Mooney, both of whom reached base with a singles off McGhee.

Concordia outhit College of Idaho 11 to 7 with Evetts and Erickson each collecting three hits.

Skaggs and Brady Mooney had two hits each for C of I.