BASEBALL: STARTING TOUGH

CU OPENS SEASON WITH TWO CLOSE LOSSES

There was no easing into the 2012 schedule for the Concord baseball team.

The defending WVIAC champions, ranked 7th in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's  Atlantic Region poll, opened the new campaign with a visit to Wingate University, which won the South Atlantic Conference last year and is ranked 9th in the NCBWA's Southeast Region.

The two squads opened a three-game weekend series with a doubleheader at Ron Christopher Stadium in Wingate, NC.

Both games went down to the very end, with the Bulldogs winning both, 7-5 and 6-4.

Ryan Weatherholtz Pitch

GAME ONE    
BOXSCORE/PLAY-BY-PLAY

The Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead with single runs in the 1st and 3rd, each on RBI singles from Dodson McPherson.

The Mountain Lions broke through against Wingate starting pitcher Justin Somers for a run in the 4th, on Bret Blevins' sacrifice fly, and tied the game in the 5th, on an RBI single by Keith Morrisroe.

CU starter Ryan Weatherholtz ran into trouble in the bottom of the inning.  Michael Godinez and Chris Vazquez singled, and McPherson hit a three-run home run that put Wingate ahead 5-2.

The Mountain Lions countered with Joe Camp's RBI single in the top of the 6th to get within 5-3.

The Bulldogs added single runs in the 7th and 8th, and they would need them.  Concord made things interesting against reliever Ryan Fitzpatrick in the top of the 9th.

With one out, Randy Beard singled and Morrisroe walked.  Zach Cloxton doubled down the left field line to score Beard.  Josh Wenger's infield single loaded the bases.

Blevins singled to left, scoring Morrisroe, but Cloxton was thrown out at the plate for the second out of the inning.  Fitzpatrick induced a fielder's choice to end the game.

Morrisroe went 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored.  Blevins finished 2-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.

McPherson was 3-4 with two runs scored and five RBIs.


Ian Humphrey Swing
GAME TWO  
BOXSCORE/PLAY-BY-PLAY

The second game, a seven-inning contest, started as a scoreless duel between starting pitchers Devin Smith of Concord and WU's Ben Currie.

Concord rapped out five hits in the first four innings, but couldn't push across a run.  Smith limited the Bulldogs to just one hit through four, but encountered problems in the 5th.

Casey Allison drew a leadoff walk. Jacob Karr doubled to drive in Allison.  Jason Hunter hit a two-run homer to give Wingate a 3-0 lead, and after Josh Clark doubled, Smith gave way to reliever Justin Willard.

Willard retired the first batter he faced, then allowed an RBI single to Thomas Spitz.  Vazquez lined into a double play to end the inning.

Concord got some help to get to Currie in the top of the 6th.  Currie got the first two outs, but Ryan Johnston reached on a throwing error by Godinez at shortstop.  Cloxton drew a walk, and Ian Humphrey chased Currie with a two-run double down the line in left.  Reliever Stephen Vaughn ended the inning, but Concord was within 4-2.

Wingate restored its lead to four with two runs in the bottom of the 6th, and again, they would need them.  In the top of the 7th, Josh Karr came on in relief, and Beard greeted him with a single up the middle.  Morrisroe doubled, and Blevins clouted a double to left that scored two runs and moved CU within 6-4.

Karr retired the next two batters, but Johnston singled and Cloxton drew a walk to load the bases.  Karr got Humphrey to pop out to end the game.

Morrisroe went 3-4 to pace the Concord offense, while Johnston was 2-4.  Blevins and Humphrey drove in two runs each.

Jason Hunter went 2-3 with two RBIs for Wingate.


Up next for Concord is the finale of its three-game series with Wingate, on Sunday, February 5.  First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 pm.



(statistics courtesy Wingate Sports Information)




Print Friendly Version