The Oles' Nick Fuerst watches his walk-off homer in game one before getting congratulated by his teammates at home plate.
St. Olaf 12, Concordia 10 (Box - 8 inn.) | Concordia 11, St. Olaf 9

Fuerst hits walk-off blast in opener, Cobbers win game two

Mike Ludwig
April 20, 2009

NORTHFIELD, Minn. - Nick Fuerst hit a walk-off two-run homer in the eighth inning to lead the St. Olaf baseball team over Concordia 12-10 in game one of an MIAC baseball doubleheader on Monday. The Cobbers defeated St. Olaf 11-9 in the second game.

Game One: St. Olaf 12, Concordia 10
Fuerst's blast completed the Oles' come-from-behind rally, which overcame a 9-6 Concordia advantage.

The teams combined to hit seven homeruns in the game, which was played in temperatures in the high 30's and in gusting winds blowing out to right field.

The Cobbers scored three in the third and five times in the fourth inning, on a three-run homer by Tony Emmerich and a two-run shot from Adam Johnson, to gain the big lead.

The Oles then plated three of their own in the fourth on a Carson Jones' homer to tie the game at 9-9.

Erik Olson pitched the Oles out of trouble in the fifth and closed the game with three scoreless innings to get the win, his fourth (4-1) of the season.

Fuerst was 3-for-5 with three runs and three RBIs in the win. Pat Wadzinski and Jones added two-hit efforts for St. Olaf.

Concordia's Emmerich and Johnson were each 3-for-5, as two of six Cobbers who had multi-hit games.

Game Two: Concordia 11, St. Olaf 9
Concordia reliever Jake Torrison retired Wadzinski for the final out on a fly ball to deep right with the bases loaded as the Cobbers held off the Oles 11-9 in the second game.

Wadzinski went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs in the loss for the Oles, who dropped to 5-5 in league play.

Concordia used two big innings -- a five-run second inning and a four-run fourth -- to get the win. The Cobbers took advantage of five St. Olaf errors and the wind to hit three homeruns in the victory.

Concordia's Dan Wackler delivered the biggest blow in the fourth with his two-out, three-run shot that made it 9-3.

St. Olaf chipped away at the lead with two-run rallies in the fourth and sixth innings to set up the dramatic seventh.

Down 11-7 in the their final at bat the Oles' Fuerst, Jim Blissenbach and Tyler Johnson walked to load the bases with one out. After an Erik Nelson strikeout, pinch hitter Corey Nelson and Tyler Jones then drew a walks to make 11-9. Wadzinski's flyout came on Torrison's second pitch.

Contact media relations specialist Mike Ludwig at (507) 786-3834 or ludwigm@stolaf.edu.