The Concord Softball team wrapped up the month of February and its 'Carolina Swing' with a doubleheader sweep of Johnson C. Smith in Charlotte, NC on Sunday the 28th in Charlotte.
Game 1
The Lady Lions' offense got going early and often, ringing up 17 hits in an 11-6, 6-inning victory. Every Concord player who got an at-bat got at least one hit, with Katie Billingslea and Brooke Bowling finishing with three hits each. Sam Clement and Stephanie Harper (Carson City, NV) added two hits apiece.
Bowling went 3-5 with a home run and a double.
Rebecca Gleason and Kristen McClure also doubled for Concord.
In the circle, Tamara Smith put in another solid performance. The former WVIAC Pitcher of the Week scattered six hits and struck out nine on the way to the win.
Game 2
The Lady Lions kept up the barrage, with 14 more hits in a 6-4 victory.
McClure was CU's starting pitcher, working two innings and getting the win before giving way to Smith, who struck out 10 more Lady Bulls to raise her 'K' total to 19 in the twinbill.
McClure, who missed Concord's first eight games, was stellar in her Concord debut. She hit for the cycle on the day, going 5-7 overall, in addition to her pitching victory.
The Lady Lions wrapped up the 'Carolina Swing' with a respectable 4-4 record, but head coach Sabrina McCullough says there's room for improvement.
“It was a good performance on the weekend by the girls," said CU's second-year coach. "As we continue to enter more competition, each player is working more and more to define their role on the team. One great thing about this weekend was how some girls were able to come into the game off the bench and get clutch hits to help out the team.”
The Lady Lions play their first WVIAC doubleheader of the season on Saturday, March 6th, with a visit to West Virginia State.
The next day, Concord begins leaves for its annual Spring Break trip, heading to Titusville, Florida, for the Cocoa Beach Expo.
The Lady Lions will play eight games in five days before coming back to Athens for their home opener -- a non-conference doubleheader against Slippery Rock (PA) on Sunday, March 14th.
