GOING BIG

BIG RALLIES LEAD MOUNTAIN LIONS TO SWEEP OF FAIRMONT STATE

• Share:

There's the old saying, “Go big or go home.”

For Concord's Baseball team Sunday, it was “Go home and go big.”

Playing their first home games in two weeks, the Mountain Lions busted out for several big innings in sweeping a WVIAC seven-inning doubleheader from Fairmont State, 20-8 and 10-4.

It was the first conference action for both teams. The sweep improved Concord to 5-0 at Anderson Field this season.

In the first game, CU scored four runs in the 1st inning, five in the 3rd, seven in the 4th and four in the 6th. The Mountain Lions took control of the second game with a seven-run rally in the 4th.

GAME ONE
Boxscore / Play-By-Play

The Fighting Falcons exploited two Concord errors to score an unearned run in the top of 1st.

The Mountain Lions answered with RBI hits from Keith Morrisroe, Josh Wenger and Randy Beard in the bottom of the inning; a double steal brought in Nick Sydnor with the fourth run.

FSU put together four hits to score three times in the top of the 2nd, evening the score at 4-4. But the tie lasted only until the bottom the 3rd.

Wenger singled and Webb walked to being the inning, and Bret Blevins' RBI single scored Wenger. Sydnor walked, loading the bases, and Randy Beard hit a sacrifice fly that brought in Webb.
Chichester hit Sanchez to reload the bases. One out later, Chichester hit Mays, scoring Blevins, then hit Morrisroe, scoring Sydnor. Wenger, the tenth batter of the inning, drew a walk that ended Chichester's day and capped the rally. Concord led 9-4.

CU erupted again in the bottom of 4th. Bret Blevins, Sydnor and Randy Beard started the inning with consecutive singles, bringing up Raphael Sanchez, who took a Gage Chichester offering over the wall for a grand slam and a 13-4 CU lead.
FSU reliever Nick Mayle walked Claxton and Morrisroe; Claxton hustled in to score on Wenger's fielder's choice groundout. Webb singled and Blevins walked, loading the bases for Sydnor, who delivered a two-run single to left that pushed CU's lead to 16-4.

In the bottom of the 5th, RBI singles from Morrisroe (right) and Kyle Webb highlighted a four-run rally – aided by two FSU errors – that put the Mountain Lions ahead 20-4.

The Fighting Falcons reached Concord reliever William Zuspan for four runs in the 6th to end the game's scoring.

CU starter Ryan Weatherholtz allowed five hits and four runs in five innings – with no walks -- to get the win.
Offensively, six Concord players had at least two hits, with Sydnor going 3-3. Eight Mountain Lions produced RBIs, led by four from Sanchez and three from Morrisroe.


GAME TWO
Boxscore / Play-By-Play

Mays, Concord's starting pitcher, and FSU starter Tyler Kincaid combined to keep the contest scoreless through the first three innings.

The visitors utilized two CU errors to score three times in the top of the 4th, but again, Concord answered promptly.

Wenger doubled to lead off the bottom of the 4th; Webb walked and Blevins bunted for a single to load the bases.
Sydnor then hit tailor-made double-play grounder to Falcons' SS Brandon Skoff, but the senior misplayed it into an error that scored both Wenger and Webb. One out later, Sanchez singled to left, scoring Blevins. Clay Riggleman followed with another single to left that brought in Sydnor.
Mays bounced a triple over the head of Falcons CF Jimmy Earp, bringing around Sanchez and Riggleman.
Ian Humphrey lifted a sacrifice fly to left that ended the scoring. CU was ahead 7-3.

FSU got a run back in the 5th, but missed a chance to add more when Mays picked off a pair of base runners for the final two outs of the inning.

In the bottom of the

5th, Beard roped and RBI double to score Blevins, later scoring as part of a double-steal attempt.

Wenger's RBI single in the 6th ended the scoring.

Mays (left) scattered nine hits and allowed only one earned run in seven innings to get the complete game win. He helped himself at the plate by driving in two runs and stealing a base.

Wenger paced Concord's offense with three hits.

Up next for Concord (7-8, 2-0) is a WVIAC doubleheader against defending conference tournament champion Seton Hill, Tuesday afternoon at Anderson Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm. Admission is free.

Print Friendly Version