BASEBALL: RIGHT AND LEFT

WEATHERHOLTZ SHUTOUT, STRONG START BY ZIMM LEAD CU TO SWEEP OF FSU

Concord's baseball threw a strong right-left combination in opening its WVIAC schedule with a doubleheader sweep of Fairmont State on Saturday afternoon.

Sophomore right-hander Ryan Weatherholtz threw a three-hit shutout in the first game, and sophomore lefty Ryan Zimm tossed five strong innings in the nightcap, as CU swept the Fighting Falcons 5-0 and 4-2 at Mary Lou Retton Park in Fairmont, WV.

GAME ONE
BOXSCORE / PLAY-BY-PLAY

The Mountain Lions took the lead – to stay – on Ryan Johnston's two-run home run off FSU starter Tyler Kincaid in the top of the 2nd.

CU played small ball to scratch out a run in the 3rd.  Keith Morrisroe walked, stole second, moved to third on Bret Blevins' flyout to center and scored on T.J. Brockway's infield single.

Ryan Weatherholtz 2012 head shot
Morrisroe bunted for a single to lead off the 5th, setting the stage for a two-run single from Brockway that gave Weatherholtz more than enough cushion.

Weatherholtz (left) gave up just two hits over the first six innings before the Falcons threatened with two outs in the bottom of the 7th.   Tyler Barnette doubled and Ryan Fondreist walked, but Weatherholtz got Shaun Vernesoni to ground out to secure his first collegiate shutout.

Weatherholtz walked two and struck out six in winning his second straight decision.

Brockway and Josh Wenger led the CU offense with two hits each.



GAME TWO
BOXSCORE / PLAY-BY-PLAY

The contest began as a pitchers' duel.  CU's Tyler Zimm (below right) and FSU's Ryan Fenwick each kept the opponent off the board through the first four innings.

Concord broke through in the top of the 5th.  Devin Smith reached on an error by shortstop Trevor Funk and advanced to second on Randy Beard's sacrifice.  Keith Morrisroe drew a walk, and Jerrod Groves broke the shutout with a three-run home run that would give the Mountain Lions the lead for good.

Tyler Zimm 2012 head shot
CU tacked on an insurance run in the 6th, on back-to-back two-out doubles by Ian Humphrey and Smith.

Fairmont State mounted a serious threat in the bottom of the 6th.  Craig Szymczak reached on an error, Greg Hawkins singled and Nick Hallis drew a walk to load the bases with nobody out, and CU head coach Andrew Wright brought in Will Zuspan from the bullpen.

FSU's Tyler Barnette brought in a run with a sacrifice fly and Ryan Fondreist plated another with a single.

With the tying run in scoring position, Zuspan got Jeff Fansler to line into an unassisted double play to end the threat.

Zuspan retired the side in order in the 7th to nail down his second save of the season.

Zimm got the win, scattering four hits and allowing one earned run in five innings.  On offense, CU's seven hits came from seven different players.



Up next for Concord (6-10, 2-0) is a visit to defending conference regular season titlist Seton Hill for a seven-inning doubleheader on Tuesday, March 13.  First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm in Greensburg, PA.


(boxscores courtesy of Fairmont State Sports Information)






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