San Antonio, TX (March 10, 2025) - The DeSales University baseball team opened its 2025 spring trip out to San Antonio, TX with a 15-14 loss at Concordia University on Monday evening.

Concordia got on the board first in this one as an RBI groundout saw the Tornadoes up 1-0 at the end of the first inning. DSU would respond in the next half inning with three runs that was a result from a wild pitch that scored senior Owen Fischl, an RBI single by sophomore Eric Wert, and sac-fly from graduate student Travis Kerr to give the Bulldogs the 3-1 lead into the bottom of the second inning.   

The Tornadoes had an answer in the bottom half of the frame as they would put up a six spot with five hits to retake the lead, 7-3. Concordia had back-to-back two RBI singles and later a two-run home run to cap off the second inning.

In the third inning, DSU cut into the deficit with an RBI single from Fischl and sac-fly from first-year Jacob Rivera to trim the margin in half (7-5). DSU's offense remained hot in the fourth inning as they would score four more runs to regain a 9-7 lead that was ignited by an RBI fielder's choice by junior third baseman Colin Houck, then followed by a two-run single by senior Justin DeStaso and finished with an RBI single from Rivera.

The offensive clinic would carry on into the fifth innings as DSU poured five more runs. Houck had RBI walk while graduate student Gavin Zavorski, Justin DeStaso, and Jacob Rivera each had an RBI single has part of the five-run fifth to swell the lead up to 14-8 after five innings.

Concordia responded in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run double and an RBI groundout to cut the Bulldog lead in half (14-11). They would pull even closer in the next inning with an RBI double that was followed by an RBI single to pull within one (14-13) after seven innings of play.

The Tornadoes tied and took the lead in the bottom of the eighth on a two-run triple to go up 15-14 as DSU couldn't put together one final rally.

Junior Zach Rothermel pitched three solid innings in relief allowing just one run while scattering three hits and striking out three batters.

First-year Kevin Eden was charged with the loss allowing the two runs in the eighth inning.

Justin DeStaso finished 4-for-5 with three RBIs and one run scored, Rivera went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and one run scored, and Houck had two RBIs and three runs scored.

Kerr, Fischl, and Wert each had three hits in the loss.

DSU continues their spring break trip in San Antonio, TX tomorrow when they travel to Southwestern University with first pitch set for 8:00 pm.