Concord's Softball team took another step forward Saturday afternoon, sweeping a non-conference doubleheader over Asbury College in Wilmore, KY.
The Lady Lions won in a slugfest and a pitchers' duel in defeating the Eagles 8-2 and 3-0.
Asbury, an NAIA team, is currently in first place in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
The victories lifted Concord's record 11-10 – a decided improvement for a program that went 8-88 from 2007-2009.
The two teams combined for 25 hits (Concord 15, Asbury 10) in the first game, of which the Lady Lions took command with two big rallies.
Trailing 2-1 in the top of the 4th inning, Concord burst out for three runs off Asbury starting pitcher Maris Harreld. Becca Gleason led off the inning with a solo home run (on a 1-2 pitch) to tie the score at 2-2. Mariel Wilson doubled and Alex Brown singled; one out later, Tamara Smith bunted for a single to load the bases. With two outs, Kristen McClure singled to short left, driving in Wilson and Brown and putting CU ahead to stay at 4-2.
In the 6th, RBI singles from Samantha Clement and Stephanie Harper extended Concord's lead to 6-2, and Brooke Bowling put the game away with a two-out, two-run double to deep center.
Five Concord players had at least two hits -- Brown (3-4, one run scored), McClure (2-4, double, two RBIs), Bowling (2-4, double, two RBIs), Harper (2-4, run scored) and Gleason (2-4, HR).
Smith started in the pitcher's circle, and finished there, too – the freshman went the distance, scattering 10 hits while surrendering two runs (both earned), while walking one and striking out three.
Harreld allowed five runs on 11 hits in five innings and took the loss. Reliever Danielle Jennings gave up Concord's 6th inning rally.
GAME ONE BOXSCORE/PLAY-BY-PLAY:
Concord carried over its offensive momentum to the 1st inning of the second game. With one out, Clement walked and McClure doubled, putting runners at second and third. Harper drove in Clement with a single to left, and Bowling brought in McClure with a single up the middle.
As it turned out, those would be the only runs the Lady Lions would need. But Concord added a single run in the top of the 7th, with pinch-runner Amber Burch scoring on a two-out passed ball.
Bowling, CU's starting pitcher, shut down Asbury over six innings. She allowed just three singles and two walks, while striking out two. Smith got the save by throwing a scoreless 7th.
McClure also paced Concord's offense, going 2-4; her double was the game's only extra-base hit. Harper and Bowling each finished 2-4 and Clement 2-2.
Concord outhit Asbury 10-3.
GAME TWO BOXSCORE/PLAY-BY-PLAY:
Concord, which has won six of its last seven games, gets most of next week off before playing in a tournament hosted by Ohio Valley on Friday and Saturday, March 26th and 27th.
