(Story courtesy of Concordia University (Tex.) Athletics Communication Staff)
MARSHALL, Texas - The Concordia Texas baseball team earned a pair of victories Saturday to advance to its second straight NCAA Regional final.
In game one, the team blasted their way to a 12-8 win over Belhaven, where their six homeruns totaled a new program record for homeruns in a NCAA Regional. Logan Smith led the way with two homers, & Ralph Wallace III earned the save at Woods Field on Saturday.
CTX fell behind 4-2 after the second inning, but the offense quickly answered. Kalen Clark opened the third with a solo homer before the Tornados tied the game later in the inning following a passed ball.
The Tornados broke the game open in the fourth. Samuel Ortiz led off the inning with a homer before Jett Warner launched a three-run shot to cap a four-run frame and give Concordia an 8-4 advantage.
Smith added solo home runs in the fifth and seventh innings, while Jake Townsend and Clark also homered in the victory.
Belhaven pulled within two runs after scoring three in the seventh, but Ralph Wallace III shut the door with three innings of relief to earn the save.
CTX added insurance in the ninth on Smith's RBI double and a sacrifice fly from Ortiz.
BOX SCORE STANDOUTS
Logan Smith 3-for-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R
Samuel Ortiz 2-for-5, HR, 3 RBI
Jett Warner 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI
Kalen Clark 2-for-3, HR, RBI, 2 R
Jake Townsend HR, RBI
Ralph Wallace III 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 K, Save
Game two:
In their second elimination game of the day, the Concordia Texas baseball team earned a 10-2 win over Rhodes College to advance to the NCAA Regional Finals for the second consecutive year. Second-year pitcher Brandon Hutchings tossed a career-high 121 pitches in 7.2 innings of action as the Tornados launched four homers at Woods Field on Saturday.
The Tornados jumped on the Lynx immediately in the opening inning. Louis Alonzo singled and Landon Hyle walked before Jett Warner launched a three-run homer to give CTX an early 3-0 lead.
CTX continued to add on throughout the night. Jake Townsend crushed a two-run homer in the fourth inning before Logan Smithdrove in another run in the sixth to extend the lead to 6-0.
The Tornados broke the game open in the seventh inning as Kalen Clark blasted a two-run homer and Hyle followed with a solo shot to push the advantage to 9-0.
Hutchings turned in a strong outing on the mound, allowing just two runs across 7.2 innings while striking out three. Chase North closed the game with 1.1 innings of relief and three strikeouts.
BOX SCORE STANDOUTS
Jett Warner 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, 3 R
Jake Townsend 2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI
Kalen Clark HR, 2 RBI
Landon Hyle HR, RBI, 2 R
Logan Smith 2-for-4, 2B, RBI
Brandon Hutchings 7.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, Win
Concordia Texas will next take on the host-team East Texas Baptist where CTX will have to win two games to advance to the Super Regional. First pitch is scheduled for 11am with the "if necessary" game to follow 30 minutes after.
