DOWN TO THE LAST

CU SPLITS DRAMATIC DH WITH WV STATE

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All an underdog team can ask for, when going against a favored opponent, is to have a chance to win in the end.

Concord's Softball team got that chance twice in its WVIAC doubleheader against third-place West Virginia State on Sunday afternoon in Athens. With each game going down to the last at-bat, the Lady Lions split the twinbill -- winning the first game 6-5, and dropping the nightcap 2-1.

GAME ONE
BOXSCORE / PLAY-BY-PLAY

Each team saw its second baseman hit a solo home run in the 1st. WVSU's Mattie Best hit a line drive that just cleared the fence in left, while Concord's Brooke Bowling (left) launched a bomb over the high fence and onto the CU tennis courts in left center.

The Yellow Jackets scratched out a run with two outs in the 2nd. Marlena Frey Runyon drew a full-count walk, stole second, and scored on Kelsey Lorraine's single up the middle.

The Lady Lions came right back in the bottom of the inning. Stephanie Harper led off with a full-count single to center, and flex player Tiffany Kobordo came in to run for her. Tamara Smith put down a bunt near the circle that spun away from Lorraine, the pitcher, for an infield single. Lorraine hit Ericka Davies with a pitch to load the bases.
Kaylyn Klatt lined a first-pitch single to left to score Kobordo and tie the game at 2-2.
One out later, Lorraine threw a wild pitch that brought in Smith to give CU the lead.

The weather helped WVSU start a rally in the top of the 5th. With two outs, Best lifted a routine pop fly to left that seemed destined to end the inning. But a strong westerly wind gusted to knock it down for a bloop double.
Brittany Hyatt singled up the middle to tie the game, and cleanup hitter Kayla Sturms hit a two-run homer to left to put the Yellow Jackets ahead 5-3.

Concord squared the game in the bottom of the 6th. With two on and one out, Becca Gleason lined a single to center, bringing in Klatt to score. Meanwhile, the ball bounced off CF Cassie Nowery's leg, and the error plated Casey Ord with the tying run.

That set the stage for a dramatic bottom of the 7th. Sheila Davies (right) led off with a solid single to center, and went to third on Stephanie Harper's single to right. That chased Lorraine, who gave way to reliever Jade Weinkauf.
Smith smashed a grounder to Hyatt at shortstop, who speared the ball and threw to the plate, where Davies was called out on a close play.
Ericka Davies beat out an infield single to load the bases. Klatt flied to right for the second out, but Casey Ord worked Weinkauf for a walk that brought in the winning run.

Bowling excelled at the plate and with the glove. She went 3-4 with an RBI and a run scored; on defense she posted four put outs and six assists.
Harper finished 2-3 and Klatt 2-4 with an RBI.

Smith allowed 11 hits and a walk, with no strikeouts, but outlasted Lorraine to get the pitching victory. CU did not commit an error in the game.

CU's win is believed to be its first over West Virginia State since a 2-1 victory in Athens on April 7, 2005.


GAME TWO
BOXSCORE / PLAY-BY-PLAY

Concord grabbed an early lead when Williams lined an opposite-field solo home run off Weinkauf in the bottom of the 1st. But it would be the only run CU would score.

WVSU drew even in the 3rd. Poppy Ramey led off with a looper that eluded the grasp of CU centerfield Tiffany Kobordo and went for a single. Ramey stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Mallory Hilton's groundout.

The Yellow Jackets missed a chance to move ahead in the 4th. They loaded the bases with nobody out when Margaret Osborne hit a pop-up near third base. The ball fell to the ground; Osborne was automatically out on the infield fly rule, but Kayla Sturm tried to go from third to home and was thrown out, ending an unorthodox double play. Bowling, CU's starting pitcher, got Lorraine to fly out to Kobordo to end the inning.

WVSU took the lead when Mallory led off the top of the 6th with a solo homer, but failed to deliver a knockout blow. Bowling hit Sturms with a pitch to put another runner on. One out later, Frye-Runyon singled, and a wild pitch put runners at second and third.
Bowling bore down to strike out Osborne and get Lorraine to again fly out to Kobordo to close the door.

Concord looked poised to tie the game in the bottom of the 7th. With one out, Rachel Mack reached on an error and Kobordo drew a walk, putting the tying run in scoring position.
With Ord at the plate, a pitch bounced away from home plate; Mack tried for third but was thrown out. Kobordo moved to second. Ord drew a walk, but Weinkauf retired Gleason to end the game.

Williams' 2-3 day led the CU offense, while Bowling took a hard-luck loss in the circle.


Up next for Concord is a non-conference doubleheader against King College (TN) on Tuesday, April 19 at the CU softball complex adjacent to Callaghan Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 pm. Admission is free.


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

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