Charlotte, NC- (Story information from Belmont Abbey) Concord made the 3 hour drive to Charlotte, North Carolina to take on a Conference Carolinas' powerhouse team in the Belmont Abbey Crusaders. The Mountain Lions went to Abbey Field with high expectations after just missing the DII top 25 as they are ranked 26th in the nation. Concord won the slugfest with the Crusaders as they won the game 15-14.
Concord, who is used to playing double headers, found themselves up early in the contest as they took a 5-0 lead in the first inning. However, the Crusaders were ready for the fight as over the next three innings they captured the lead at 8-5.
In the 4th inning, Greyson Schram's single scoring Brooks Cullen from third. Will Moody's single scored Matt Kuntz and Tim Merolillo. After a 3 run inning in the 4th the Mountain Lions tied the game a 8.
The game battle would continue as each team's seemed to be on tap. Concord tied the game at 10 in the 7th innings before Belmont Abbey regained the lead at 12-10 after a (2) RBI single by the Crusaders in the bottom half of the inning. The score would remain the same as the Mountain Lions came to bat in the top of the 9th.
Concord came through in the clutch as they scored 9 runs in the top of the inning. The inning was highlighted by a (3) RBI double by Blake Klaiber. Klaiber would eventually score for a much needed insurance run as he crossed the plate on a passed ball.
Tyler McKenzie's 2 run homerun in the bottom of 9th gave a scare to the Mountain Lions but didnt destroy them as they held on for the 15-14 win.
Concord (17-6, WVIAC 3-1) will be back in league play this Saturday and Sunday as they will be traveling to Institute, WV to face West Virginia State. Both contests are scheduled to begin at 1:00pm.
