NINE FOR NINE FOR CONCORD NINE

BASEBALL STAYS PERFECT AT HOME WITH SWEEP OF FAIRMONT STATE

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The Concord Baseball team improved to 9-0 at home this season by sweeping Fairmont State in a WVIAC non-divisional doubleheader, 9-8 and 17-8, on a picturesque Thursday afternoon atop the hill at Anderson Field.

The Mountain Lions spotted the Fighting Falcons leads of 6-1 in the first game and 5-1 in the second before rallying to victory.

The Mountain Lion nine (18-5, 12-4 WVIAC, 7-4 WVIAC South) have won three straight after dropping three of four in last weekend's key divisional series at West Virginia State.

Concord outhit FSU 32-20 in dropping the Fighting Falcons to 2-31, 0-10 WVIAC. 

GAME ONE	R	H	E	LOB
Fairmont State	8	12	6	11
Concord	9	14	4	11

The Fighting Falcons reached CU starter David Allen for three runs in the top of the 1st, then exploited three Concord errors to score three more in the 2nd.

CU pieced together a two-out rally to get on the board in the bottom of the 2nd. Ian Humphrey walked and Tyler Webb singled, followed by an RBI single from Brandon Proctor.

FSU starter Robbie Hamilton put himself in trouble in the 4th and Concord scored twice. Hamilton walked Brooks Cullen and Humphrey, then gave up an RBI single to Webb. Proctor singled to load the bases and Randy Beard drove in Humphrey with a sacrifice fly.

The Falcons scored a run in the top of the 5th to lead 7-3. A two-run home run by Greyson Schramm moved Concord within 7-5 in the 5th, and three FSU errors in the 6th helped CU score three more runs and take an 8-7 lead.

FSU's Joey Potesta led off the 7th with a game-tying solo home run, and the Falcons looked poised to take the lead after Jeff Fansler doubled and Preston Musgrave reached on bunt single. Cullen, pitching for Concord, would throw a wild pitch to advance Musgrave to second, and later intentionally walk Andy Leach to load the bases with two outs. But Cullen got pinch hitter Billy Kiesel to fly out to center to keep the contest even.

It didn't stay that way long.

Webb started the bottom of the 7th with a walk, followed by another single by Proctor. Both runners advanced on an error by Leach in center. The Falcons intentionally walked Beard to load the bases, setting the stage for Keith Morrisroe, who delivered the game-winning single to right.

Webb was 3-3 with an RBI and a run. Proctor ended 3-4 with an RBI. Morrisroe was 3-5 with an RBI and a run. Schram drove in three runs and Cullen scored twice. Cullen was also the winning pitcher. 

GAME TWO	R	H	E	LOB
Fairmont State	8	8	1	4
Concord	17	18	0	9

Fairmont State again struck quickly, touching up Concord starter Kyle Webb for four runs on four hits and a walk in just one-third of an inning. The Fighting Falcons would reach CU's next pitcher, Chastin Akers, for a run in the 2nd and a 5-0 lead. But that's when Concord's offense remembered what it was, going off for five runs in the 2nd and six more in the 3rd to take the lead for good.

In the 2nd, Schram singled to left and Cullen singled up the middle, and Kyle Webb doubled down the left field line for a run. Proctor hit a sacrifice fly for another run. Tyler Webb bunted for a single, and James Stehlin drove in both Webbs with a double to right center. After an FSU pitching change, the Mountain Lions scored another run on a Morrisroe sacrifice fly.

Falcons reliever Joe Elmerick hit Schram to start the 3rd, then gave up an RBI double to Cullen. Kyle Webb singled, and Elmerick threw a wild pitch that scored Cullen and moved Webb into scoring position. Webb indeed scored, on Proctor's RBI single up the middle.
Elmerick got the next two outs, but then James Stehlin singled, Beard walked and the Falcons made another pitching change. Tyler Lucas came in, and Morrisroe greeted him with an RBI double to left. Donovan Huffer followed with a laser beam single to center to score Beard and Morrisroe to push CU's lead to 11-5.

Fairmont State answered with three runs in the 5th to get within 11-8. But Concord again rallied in consecutive innings to resume command, scoring twice in the home half of the 5th and four more runs in the 6th to remove any doubt.

In the 5th, Beard drew a leadoff walk, and scored ahead of a two-run rocket-shot home run by Morrisroe, his third deep fly of the season.

In the 6th, James Stehlin fired up his teammates with his first home run, a one-out solo shot to left. Later in the inning, Nate Watson lined a two-run single and Proctor drew a bases-loaded walk.

Morrisroe topped CU's offense by going 2-3 with a double, a homer, four RBIs and three runs. James Stehlin, CU's #9 hitter, went 3-4 with his home run, a double, three RBIs and three runs. Cullen finished 3-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs. Huffer was 2-5 with two RBIs and a run.

James Stehlin was one pleasant surprise for Concord; Humphrey was another. The sophomore from Poca made his pitching debut and, in throwing the last two innings of the game, allowed only one base runner (on a hit by pitch), but no hits, while striking out one. 

Concord now prepares for an important WVIAC Southern Division against the University of Charleston this weekend. The Mountain Lions and Golden Eagles will play 1:00 pm doubleheaders on Saturday, April 17th and Sunday, April 18th, atop the hill at Anderson Field.

Concord and Fairmont State will meet again in a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 20th at Fairmont.

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