DEFINITE SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT

CU UPSETS SETON HILL IN TOURNAMENT OPENER

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Concord Baseball head coach Andrew Wright spent some time in the days leading up to the WVIAC Tournament telling the media that his team is far better now than it was early in the season.

The Mountain Lions lost their first five games to start the season and found themselves with a 10-16 record in early April.

But Concord won eight of its last eleven games to qualify for the tournament, and showed how much they've improved in the post-season opener against Seton Hill on Thursday afternoon.

Back on March 25, CU suffered a 20-5 drubbing at the hands of the Griffins at Anderson Field. But the story had a different ending when the two squads met again. 

Concord held on to defeat SHU, 11-9, in the first day of the tournament's pool play at Linda K. Epling Stadium in Beckley, WV.

The win improved CU to 23-24 and handed the defending champion Griffins – ranked #3 in the latest NCAA Atlantic Region poll – just their 11th loss in 44 games this season.

In a matchup of the conference's top two offenses, Concord out-hit Seton Hill 16-15. But early it appeared the Griffins would reprise their blowout win from March. The Griffins jumped on CU starting pitcher Ryan Weatherholtz for two runs in the bottom of the 1st, and another run in the 2nd.

But the Mountain Lions replied by batting around and scoring four times off SHU starter Brian Warheit in the top of the 3rd. Ian Humphrey, Randy Beard and Keith Morrisroe started the inning with consecutive infield singles, and Warheit hit Jacob Mays to bring in the first run.
Josh Wenger followed with a two-run double to left. The next batter up, Nick Sydnor, struck out swinging, but the third strike was a wild pitch. That allowed Mays to score and gave CU a 4-3 lead.

Jared Littler's RBI double in the bottom of the inning tied the game at 4-4, but Concord again had an answer.

Humphrey and Clay Riggleman (who replaced an injured Beard) led off the top of the 4th with back-to-back singles, putting runners at the corners. Morrisroe grounded into a fielder's choice that scored Humphrey and put Concord back in front.
Mays singled and Wenger walked, loading the bases.
Sydnor hit a groundball to Littler at first base, who threw to second to force out Wenger as Morrisroe scored. But the return throw from shortstop Nick Erminio sailed wide, bringing in Mays and extending the Mountain Lions' lead to 7-4.

Seton Hill pulled within 7-6 in the 5th, on RBI doubles by Littler and Pat Kohl. But, again, CU responded quickly.

The Mountain Lions sent eight men to the plate in the top of the 6th, scoring three more times. Morrisroe started the rally with a one-out infield single, and Mays flared a single to left. Wenger crushed a hard-hit groundball of the mound for a single to short center, with Morrisroe hustling in to score and Mays motoring to third.
Sydnor grounded out to second baseman Dave McCarthy, driving in Mays. Bret Blevins followed with a single to left, plating Wenger and pushing the CU advantage to 10-6.

Kohl's RBI single in the 7th drew Seton Hill within 10-7.

Concord played small ball to scratch out an insurance run in the top of the 9th. Blevins led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kyle Webb. Blevins advanced to third on a Raphael Sanchez groundout, and scored on Humphrey's infield single.

The Mountain Lions led 11-7, and would need the breathing room.

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n the bottom of the 9th, Concord freshman reliever Dustin Nuckels allowed an infield single to Josh Logan, then walked Littler on four pitches. CU head coach Andrew Wright then summoned Will Zuspan from the bullpen, and the move paid immediate dividends.
Zuspan got Kohl to fly out to center and struck out Alex Hetrick, but the third out proved hard to come by.
Erminio drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases, and Nate Defilippi and Tom Deangelis hit back-to-back RBI singles to pull Seton Hill within 11-9.
But with the tying run in scoring position, Zuspan (right) bore down to strike out McCarthy to end the game and secure his first collegiate save.

Blevins and Humphrey each went 3-5 to pace Concord's prolific offense. Morrisroe, Mays and Wenger had two hits apiece. Wenger drove in three runs – his 3rd inning double was CU's only extra-base hit – and Blevins added two RBIs.

Weatherholtz worked 7 2/3 innings to get the win, raising his record to 7-4.


BOXSCORE/PLAY-BY-PLAY



Up next for Concord is a meeting with Davis & Elkins in another pool play game, Friday morning at 9:30 at Epling Stadium. The Mountain Lions won both regular season meetings against the Senators, sweeping an April 23 doubleheader at Anderson Field, 8-7 and 12-9.
D&E won its first game of the tournament on Thursday, defeating Wheeling Jesuit 6-1.

Friday's game will be broadcast on ESPN Radio 102.3 The Ticket (WTMD, Hinton/Princeton/Beckley), starting with the “Mountain Lions Preview Show” at 9:15 am. The Ticket will provide free, streaming audio of the game at www.theticket102.com (WinAmp is required).

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