WHITEWATER, Wis. – The Macalester College baseball team opened play at the NCAA Division III Midwest Region Tournament with an 8-3 loss to Concordia University Chicago Thursday night at UW-Whitewater's Prucha Field. The Scots (26-16), seeded seventh in the regional, are making their first appearance in the NCAA Baseball Championship. The second-seeded Cougars (30-11) will advance through the winner's bracket to face third-seeded Adrian.

Concordia took the lead in the bottom of the second inning with three runs, including a two-run single by Bryan VanDuser. The Cougars chased Macalester starter Cole Chang (Pleasantville, N.Y./Collegiate School) with three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to lead 6-0. Senior Brendan O'Connor (Piedmont, Calif./Piedmont) entered the game with the bases loaded and ended the threat with a groundball that the Scots turned into a double play.

Macalester broke through in the top of the seventh. Sophomore Graham Low (Piedmont, Calif./Piedmont) delivered a two-run single, then scored on a single by first year Carl Francalangia (West Hartford, Conn./The Loomis School) to cut the deficit to 6-3. Concordia was able to get two runs back in the bottom of the seventh to make the score 8-3.

Chang went 5 1/3 innings, allowing six runs, five earned, on eight hits while walking two and fanning three. Six different players had hits for the Scots. Cody Caballero limited Macalester to three runs, one earned, on three hits in 6 2/3 innings to earn the win.

The Scots will take on a familiar foe in the University of St. Thomas on Friday, May 19 in an elimination game at the NCAA Midwest Regional. The first pitch is at 1:15 p.m. at Prucha Field.

2017 NCAA Baseball Midwest Regional, hosted by UW-Whitewater
Thursday, May 18 (home teams listed first):
Game 1 – No. 5 UW-La Crosse 11, No. 4 St. Scholastica 2
Game 2 – No. 1 UW-Whitewater 4, No. 8 St. Norbert 2
Game 3 – No. 3 Adrian 5, No. 6 St. Thomas 2
Game 4 – No. 2 Concordia Chicago 8, No. 7 Macalester 3

Friday, May 19
Game 5 – No. 4 St. Scholastica vs. No. 8 St. Norbert, 10 a.m.
Game 6 – No. 6 St. Thomas vs. No. 7 Macalester, 1:15 p.m.
Game 7 – No. 5 UW-La Crosse vs. No. 1 UW-Whitewater, 4:30 p.m.
Game 8 – No. 3 Adrian vs. No. 2 Concordia Chicago, 7:45 p.m.

Saturday, May 20
Game 9 – Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 7, 10 a.m.
Game 10 – Winner of Game 5 vs. Loser of Game 8, 1:15 p.m.
Game 11 – Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8, 4:30 p.m.
Game 12 – Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 10, 7:45 p.m.

Sunday, May 21
Game 13 – Winner of Game 12 vs. Loser of Game 11, 12 p.m.
Game 14 – Winner of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 13, 3:30 p.m.

Monday, May 22
Game 15 – Winner of Game 14 vs. Loser of Game 14, TBD (if necessary)

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NCAA Midwest Regional Website