St. Paul, MN -- Today, the North Central University (NCU) baseball team faced the Concordia College-Moorhead (CCM) Cobbers in St. Paul. The Rams fell in the first game with a final score of 17-4, and the second with a score of 5-0. Left fielder Caleb Alfaro continues his impressive sophomore campaign batting, .500 (3-6) with a team-high 3 RBIs on the day. 

Game 1: NCU 4, CCM 17

North Central wasted no time making an impact, striking first in the top of the opening inning. Leadoff hitter Jacobi Woodfin set the tone with a walk, followed by a Dawson Barson single to left field. Teagan Burch then drove in the first run of the game with a well-placed single to right center, bringing home Woodfin. Caleb Alfaro continued the momentum, adding another RBI single to plate Barson, giving North Central an early 2-0 lead. The Rams extended their lead in the second inning after Nolan Taylor worked a leadoff walk and advanced into scoring position. Once again, Alfaro delivered in the clutch, lacing a single to left that brought home another run, pushing the lead to 3-0. After a quiet fifth inning for both teams, the Cobbers broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth, capitalizing on extra-base hits and a pair of miscues to post a seven-run inning. North Central's offense struggled to regain momentum, but Alfaro continued his standout performance with another RBI single in the top of the seventh, driving in the Rams' final run of the game. Despite the tough loss, Alfaro shined at the plate, going 3-4 with 3 RBIs, while Burch also contributed with an RBI and a disciplined approach at the plate. Nolan Taylor showed great patience, drawing two walks and scoring twice for the Rams. However ultimately, the Rams fell in the first matchup with a score of 4-17.

Game 2: NCU 0, CCM 5

Concordia struck first with a run in the opening inning, but North Central's defense held firm. Starting pitcher Michael Newsome allowed just two hits over four innings, working around early walks to keep the game within reach. Nolan Taylor provided strong relief in the fifth, retiring all three batters he faced. The game remained close until the sixth when Concordia extended its lead with a three-run inning, highlighted by a home run. North Central's best chance came in the bottom half when Abiram Terron De Jesus doubled to left, but the Rams were unable to bring him home. Jacobi Woodfin added a stolen base, showing his speed on the basepaths, while the defense made key plays to limit further damage. Unable to string together any runs in the seventh, the Cobbers sealed another win at 5-0.

Top Performers:

• Caleb Alfaro (So., LF): combined 3-6, 3 RBI, BB, HBP
• Dawson Barson (Jr., SS): combined 2-5, R, BB
• Michael Newsome (Sr., LHP): 4.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER

Looking Ahead:

The Rams will travel to the University of Northwestern (UNW) to face the Eagles. The game is set for Friday, March 21st at 3:00 PM.

All fans are encouraged to tune into the official Rams Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter (X) pages for updates on baseball and all things NCU Athletics.