By: Ryan Lackey

PORTLAND, Ore. --- Seven hits and Kadyn Nannini's first home run of the season proved too little on Sunday afternoon, as the Bruins lost to the Concordia Cavaliers, 7-3. After allowing a run in the first, the Bruins and starting pitcher Tom Zarosinski battled for three scoreless innings, until Concordia broke out with five runs in the fifth.

In the first, Concordia plated a run when leadoff hitter Crosby slapped a single and went to second on a passed ball. Taylor attempted to sacrifice Crosby to third but reached base himself on an error by Bruins second baseman Kyle Esquerra, and Crosby came all the way around to make the score 1-0. Zarosinski worked out of a jam in the second, holding Concordia scoreless after Erickson roped a one-out triple.

The Bruins threatened in the fourth, as Jacob Woehler singled and Riley McKean was hit by a pitch to put two runners on with two outs. Esquerra, though, flied out to right.

After four excellent innings, Zarosinski finally tired in the fifth. After a quick groundout, Weiss and Crosby both singled for the Cavaliers, and Crosby stole second to place runners on second and third. Taylor knocked them both in with a line to center and was promptly driven in himself on Esposito's long double to put the score at 4-0. Zarosinski rallied to get the second out but then gave up consecutive walks and was relieved by Sean Eberhardt, who walked in another run to put the score at 5-0.

The Bruins finally cracked the scoreboard in the seventh. Ansel Webster sliced a single and McKean launched a double down the left field line to score Webster and make the score 5-1.

In the ninth, the Bruins feinted at a tremendous comeback. After Esquerra grounded out, designated hitter Jake Thran doubled and Kaydn Nannini drove a long home run over the left field fence. However, the Bruin comeback stalled there, and the game ended at 7-3.

Concordia starter McMonigle recorded the win with eight innings of five-hit work, netting eight strikeouts.

Zarosinski, despite four sharp innings before the fifth, took the loss.

Webster, McKean, and Thran all went 1-3 for the Bruins, and Nannini was exceptionally opportunistic, going 1-1 with a homer.

The Bruins stand at 2-5 with the loss. They will look to reverse their fortunes next Saturday when they travel to Pacific for a doubleheader to start conference play.