A GOOD MIX

HITTING & PITCHING COMBINE TO COMPLETE SWEEP OF SHEPHERD

• Share:

The way the Concord Baseball team has been scoring lately, CU doesn't have to get overwhelming pitching to be very difficult to defeat.

But when the Mountain Lions get effective work on the hill, trying to beat them poses their opponents an even greater challenge.

The Mountain Lions combined their usual offensive proficiency with a solid outing from starting pitcher Trey Smith to paddle Shepherd 11-3 Friday afternoon at Anderson Field. 


It was Concord's 10th consecutive victory, and it wrapped up a three-game sweep of the defending WVIAC champion Rams. It was also the fifth straight game in which the Mountain Lions (14-2, 6-1 WVIAC) have scored in double digits, and the eighth in their last nine.

On the mound, Smith scattered nine hits and four walks over in eight innings, allowing three runs (all earned) while striking out six to improve his record to 2-0.
The senior from Wytheville, VA stumbled only twice, allowing a Nathan Minnich RBI double in the 1st and a two-run home run to hot-hitting Brian Collins in the 7th. 



The Concord lineup didn't produce an enormous, explosive inning, but still posted enough crooked numbers to raise its runs-per-game average to 10.4.

Shepherd's defense helped. An error by catcher Westley Jenkins scored Greyson Schram to tie the game 1-1 in the bottom of the 2nd. The following inning, an error by shortstop Pat Argon scored Tyler Webb, and a passed ball by Jenkins brought in Keith Morrisroe. Concord had the lead for good.

In the bottom of the 4th, CU greeted Shepherd reliever Pat Smith with a decisive three-run rally. Ian Humphrey doubled and scored on Randy Beard's two-out RBI single. Morrisroe followed with a two-run homer – his second of the season – to put the Mountain Lions ahead 6-1.

Concord kept it up against the rest of the Rams' bullpen. Brooks Cullen clouted a solo home run in the 5th and a wild pitch scored Beard in the 6th. The clinching rally came in the 7th – Kyle Webb lofted a two-run homer (his first of the season), and, later, his brother Tyler Webb scored on another Shepherd passed ball.

Morrisroe topped the Mountain Lions attack by going 2-5, with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs. 
The Mountain Lions rapped out 13 hits, giving them 34 for the series.




For Shepherd (10-15, 3-5), Collins ended the series 6-12, with three home runs, 11 RBIs, a double and four runs scored. 

The Mountain Lions will enjoy a rare April weekend off before moving into a very busy homestretch. Concord won't play again until Thursday, April 8th – a 1:00 pm EDT doubleheader at West Virginia Wesleyan.

Print Friendly Version