BASEBALL: PLAYING FOR STATUS

CU SWEPT AT CHARLESTON IN DIVISION SERIES OPENER

Both Concord and the University of Charleston's baseball teams would qualify for the WVIAC Tournament, if it started today.  But with neither team's post-season status secure, there was a post-season feel when the Mountain Lions and Golden Eagles started their South Division series with a doubleheader Saturday afternoon.

Charleston fended off CU to take both games, 4-3 and 3-1, at Triana Field in Charleston, WV.

GAME ONE
BOXSCORE

Fly to Left
The hosts opened an early lead innings and held on from there.  UC scored twice in the bottom of the 1st on Corey Hill's two-out, two-run double.

The Mountain Lions answered in the second, when Ryan Johnston led off with a double, moved to third on Devin Smith's flyout to center and scored on Randy Beard's sacrifice fly.

The Golden Eagles used a double steal to go up 3-1 in the bottom of the inning, and Concord used the same tactic to get within 3-2 in the 3rd.  Singles by Keith Morrisroe and Josh Wenger gave CU runners at first and third with one out, and Wenger's steal of second forced a throwing error on C Igor Molina that brought Morrisroe home.

Hill struck again in the bottom of the 5th, with an RBI single that gave UC a 4-2 lead.  Concord cut its deficit to one with a two-out rally in the 6th – Smith and Beard singled, and an error on 1B Andrew Stichter brought in Smith.  But that would be the end of the scoring.

Concord's seven hits came from seven different players.  Starting pitcher Ryan Weatherholtz allowed eight hits and three walks in taking the complete-game loss.

GAME TWO
BOXSCORE

Taking A Pitch
As in the first game, the two teams traded small rallies, with Charleston getting the first and last.

UC took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd when Robert Collin's groundout scored John Schraer.  Concord tied the game in the 4th – with one out, Morrisroe and Bret Blevins singled, and Wenger brought in Morrisroe with a groundout.

Charleston pieced together three hits in the bottom of the inning to break the tie.  Ryan Foster's one-out RBI double brought in Schraer, and after a single from Collin, Ross Easterling's groundout scored Foster for a decisive 3-1 lead.

Concord put two runners on base in both the 6th and 7th innings but would score no more.

CU starter Tyler Zimm scattered eight hits in a complete-game effort.  Matt Ward lasted into the 7th to get the win for UC, while Corey Lakatos got the last two outs for the save.


Up next for Concord (15-24, 11-13) is the series finale tomorrow afternoon at Triana Field.  First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.


(statistics couresty of University of Charleston Sports Information)




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