The Shawnee State Baseball Team (8-7) split a doubleheader with the Cardinals of Concordia University (MI) (2-4) at Branch Rickey Park on Tuesday afternoon.

In the opener, the Bears fell behind 2-1 after three innings and the Cardinals put the game out of reach scoring five more runs in the fourth, en route to a 9-5 victory.

Down in the third by two runs, Shawnee got on the board with freshman Matt Jones' (Greenup, KY) RBI double to the gap in right center to score junior Colin Keim (Clinton, OH) to cut the Cardinals lead to 2-1.

In the fourth for Concordia, Alex Reuter led the inning off with a bunt to reach first. Aaron Ball walked and both runners advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch by freshman Chance Therrien (Washington Court House, OH). A walk for Ryan Neu loaded the bases and Brad Kindred earned an RBI as he reached as he was hit by pitch. Reuter scored on a sacrifice fly and Neu scored on a Shawnee error. Jared Janssen rounded out the Cardinal scoring in the inning as he was hit in by Thomas Sperry.

Shawnee cut their deficit in the fifth with three runs. With two outs, Jones started the Bears' rally with a single to centerfield. A base hit by freshman Xander Uxley (Pickerington, OH) and walk for senior Tyler Weisel (Canton, OH) loaded the bases. Senior Ryan Burnett (Bellevue, WA) singled, scoring Jones and Uxley. Freshman Cody Spires (Lancaster, OH) hit an RBI single to the pitcher to score courtesy runner Aaron Suydam (Painesville, OH) and cut Concordia's lead to 7-4.

Chandler Sidwell scored on a Shawnee error and Sperry crossed the plate on an RBI single by Reuter in the sixth to expand the Cardinals lead to 9-4.

Burnett scored a run in the seventh, but it wasn't enough as they Bears' fell in game one 9-5.

Senior Jordan Williams (Uniontown, OH) got the start and worked 2.0 innings, allowing one hit and striking out three. Freshman Doug Burchfield (Troy, OH) was tagged with the loss as he pitched the third inning giving up two runs on two hits with two walks. Junior Adam Wamsley (Wheelersburg, OH) worked 1.1 innings on the mounds and struck out three.

Keeler Garrett got the win for the Cardinals. He pitched 4.2 innings, allowing four runs on six hits, six walks and struck out two.

Burnett finished 2-for-2 at the plate with two RBI's and a run scored. Jones went 3-for-4 in the game with an RBI and run scored.

Shawnee State got their offense going in the night cap, tallying 10 hits in the game, to capture the 10-5 victory.

The Bears found themselves down 3-1 after the first inning. In the second, Shawnee State knotted the game at 3-3 on a two RBI double by Spires.

Kindred gave the Cardinals the 4-3 lead as he scored on a base hit by Sperry. Shawnee answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to take their first lead of the game. Morrison led off the inning with a base hit and advance into scoring position on a wild pitch. Keim reached with an infield single. Morrison tied the game as he crossed the plate on an RBI by Jones and courtesy runner senior Justin Marrero (Reynoldsburg, OH) gave Shawnee the lead on an RBI single by senior AJ Gomez (Spring, TX).

The Bears added to their lead in the fifth scoring five runs. Burnett led off the inning reaching third on a Cardinal error and Spires walked to put two on. Wamsley's single to right scored Burnett and Spires scored on a wild pitch. An RBI double by Morrison plated another Bear run and Morrison scored on Keim's double to center, extending the lead to 10-4.

Concordia scored a run in the fifth but would fall 10-5 to the Bears to split the doubleheader.

Freshman Ryan Hackworth (Pedro, OH) picked up his first win on the mound, working 3.0 innings allowing four runs on five hits and one walk. Spires picked up the save as he pitched 4.0 innings allowing one hit, one walk with two strike outs.

Jack Scheel was tagged with the loss as he allowed nine runs (seven earned) on eight hits and three walks. He had one struck out in the game.

Morrison went 3-for-4 in the game, with a double, two runs scores and an RBI, while Keim finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a double.

Shawnee State's game against Northwestern Ohio has been moved to Thursday, March 1 with first pitch set for 2:00 p.m.