HITTING AND HITTING BACK

MOUNTAIN LIONS SPLIT WITH WV WESLEYAN

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In a day highlighted by big innings, Concord's Baseball team split a WVIAC seven-inning doubleheader with West Virginia Wesleyan Sunday afternoon at Anderson Field.

The visitors scored six times in an inning twice in winning the first game 12-1. In the nightcap, the Mountain Lions hung on to win a 13-11 shootout.

GAME ONE
BOXSCORE / PLAY-BY-PLAY

The Mountain Lions took the first lead, on Raphael Sanchez's leadoff home run in the bottom of the 3rd.

But that would be the only run allowed by Bobcats' starting pitcher Kevin Holdsworth, who scattered seven hits and walked only one in a complete game victory.

In the top of the 5th, a series of CU missteps set the table for Wesleyan's first big rally. Two walks and two errors started the inning, and the Bobcats needed only two hits to score a half-dozen times and lead 6-1.

Concord threatened in the bottom of the 6th, when Ian Humphrey and Jacob Mays led off with consecutive singles, but couldn't push a run across. That set up Wesleyan for its second big rally one inning later.

The Bobcats sent 11 men to the plate in the top of the 7th, scoring six runs on five hits to end any doubt.

Nick Sydnor led the Mountain Lions offense by going 3-3 with a triple. Mark Darlington drove in three runs for WVWC. Four CU errors resulted in six unearned runs.

GAME TWO
BOXSCORE / PLAY-BY-PLAY

The Mountain Lions struck with a four-run 1st inning, aided by a Bobcat mistake. With one out and Jacob Mays at first, Nick Sydnor hit a fly ball to left. Adam Lewton dove for the ball, but it bounced off his arm for an error.

Josh Wenger immediately singled to left to score Mays. Webb singled to center to load the bases, and Bret Blevins scorched a two-run single to left to give Concord a 3-0 lead.
Sanchez rocketed an infield single off SS Gary Williams to reload the bases. Randy Beard's sacrifice fly capped the rally.

Sanchez (left) smacked an RBI double into the left field corner in the 3rd to put CU ahead 5-0.

The Mountain Lions erupted for five more runs in the 5th. Mays and Morrisroe singled to start the inning, forcing Wesleyan into a pitching change that didn't pay off.
Sydnor walked to load the bases, followed by back-to-back two-run singles from Wenger and Webb. Later, after another pitching change, a wild pitch scored Webb and CU was in front 10-0.

Concord starting pitcher Brandon Proctor gave up just one hit and one walk in the first four innings, but struggled in the 5th. The sophomore quickly allowed two hits and a walk (and CU committed an error) before getting the first out. He gave up another hit, and with the bases loaded, hit one batter and walked another. Dustin Nuckel came from the bullpen, but before he could end the inning Wesleyan had closed within 10-8.

The Bobcats tallied again in the 6th, but Concord countered in the bottom of the inning.

With two outs and Webb on third, WVWC reliever Nick Benges hit two straight batters -- Beard and Ian Humphries -- with a pitch. That brought about another pitching change. In came Nathan Gainer, who got the win in Saturday's series opener with 3 2/3 innings of hitless relief.
Gainer got Mays to loft a ball to center, but Mark Darlington misplayed the potential third out into a three-base error. Webb, Beard and Humphries scored and Concord had some breathing room and a 13-9 lead.

In the top of the 7th, the Bobcats loaded the bases with one out off Webb, who was on in relief. Lewton hit into a fielder's choice that scored one run, with another coming in on a CU error.
But with the winning run at the plate, Webb struck out Aaron Wiegel to put an end to threat and the game.

Concord's 4th-7th hitters – Wenger, Webb, Blevins and Sanchez – each had two hits and combined for eight RBIs and six runs scored.


Up next for Concord (8-11, 3-3) is a visit to Wheeling Jesuit for a WVIAC doubleheader on Wednesday, March 23. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.



^{(Boxscores provided by Concord GA SID Brandon Besl)}

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