TUCSON, Ariz. – The Concordia University Wisconsin baseball team opened the 2026 season with a pair of losses to RV Gustavus Adolphus at the Tucson Invitational Games. The Falcons are in Arizona for their annual spring break trip and will play nine total games during the week. The meeting also marked the third consecutive season CUW has faced the Golden Gusties at the tournament.
 
GAME 1 | RV Gustavus Adolphus 7, Concordia Wisconsin 6
The Falcons struck first in the season opener, as junior Connor Lasch (Chicago, Ill.) laced a double to score junior Alex Ames (Plymouth, Wis.) and give CUW a 1-0 lead. Gustavus Adolphus responded with three runs by the fourth inning to take control.
 
CUW answered in the fourth, loading the bases on a pair of walks and an error. Sophomore Graham Kasten (Mequon, Wis.) drew a bases-loaded walk against a new pitcher to plate a run and cut into the deficit.
 
The Golden Gusties extended their advantage to 5-2 entering the sixth. Junior Jason Valdez (Glendale Heights, Ill.) ignited the frame with a leadoff double to center and advanced to third on a flyout before scoring on a wild pitch to pull the Falcons within two.
 
Gustavus Adolphus added two runs to build a 7-3 lead heading into the final inning. The Falcons mounted a late rally as walks once again loaded the bases. Freshman Dylan Hein, who began the inning with a double, scored on a walk. Ames followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home freshman Jack Anzelmo (Appleton, Wis.), and senior Brandon McCray (Corona, Calif.) delivered an RBI double to trim the deficit to 7-6. The Gusties, however, recorded the final outs to secure the win.
 
Five Falcons recorded RBIs in the contest: Kasten, Ames, McCray, Lasch, and Valdez. Hein, Ames, McCray, Lasch, and Valdez each tallied doubles, while Ames and Valdez added stolen bases.
 
Freshman Jack Stuck (Bayside, Wis.) made the Opening Day start, pitching four innings with two strikeouts and one walk allowed. Freshman Jackson Kobylarczyk (Jackson, Wis.) worked the final two frames in relief, striking out one. Stuck was charged with the loss and moves to 0-1 on the season.
 
GAME 2 | RV Gustavus Adolphus 13, Concordia Wisconsin 9
Game two featured another high-scoring battle, with Gustavus Adolphus once again edging the Falcons.
 
The Golden Gusties jumped out early, plating five runs in the bottom of the second inning. CUW answered when senior Matt Miller (Fredonia, Wis.) delivered an RBI single to left field to get the Falcons on the board.
 
Jack Anzelmo provided a spark with CUW's first home run of the season, launching a ball over the left-field fence. Gustavus Adolphus continued to swing hot bats, building a 13-3 advantage entering the seventh.
 
The Falcons rallied in the seventh, scoring six runs on two hits and two errors. Senior Tyler Murray (Kankakee, Ill.), freshman Cameron Bueno (Milwaukee, Wis.), sophomore Tommy Dahlke (Gaithersburg, Md.), and Anzelmo each recorded RBIs in the inning. Despite the late surge, the early deficit proved too much to overcome as CUW dropped its second contest of the day.
 
Anzelmo led the charge with three hits, while McCray and Hein added tow apiece.
 
Freshman Russell Roodenburg (Scottsdale, Ariz.) earned the start in game two, striking out three over two innings. Four additional Falcons saw time on the mound, including freshman Nolan Sand (Mishicot, Wis.), who tossed three full innings in relief. Roodenburg was credited with the loss.
 
The Falcons and Golden Gusties will conclude their Tucson series with two more games — one tomorrow and one Wednesday. First pitch tomorrow is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. MST.