Concord Beats FMU, Falls to #2 Kutztown

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
The Mountain Lions exit the Invite with an overall record of 5-1, the program's best start to a season since the 2000 campaign.

Game One: No. 2 Kutztown 4 – Concord 3 (Box Score)
A four-run fifth inning proved too much for Concord to overcome against Kutztown, which was ranked second in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's preseason top-25 poll, in the 4-3 defeat in Friday's opener.

The Mountain Lions struck first with a pair of runs off of Kutztown errors in the fourth inning that allowed junior Whitney Carrigan, who was pinch-running for sophomore Allie Reid who singled earlier in the frame, and freshman designated player Carly DiVirgilio to score.  

Concord's lead was short lived as the Golden Bears finally got to CU freshman pitcher Sarah Herndon (0-1) for four runs in the fifth inning after Herndon began the game by stranding seven Kutztown base runners over the first four innings.

The Maroon and Gray cut into Kutztown's 4-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth off a RBI-double by DiVirgilio that plated sophomore second baseman Kristen Rose to make it a one-run game heading into the sixth.

Junior Lacey McDougall came on in relief of Herndon and held the Golden Bears scoreless over the final two innings, but CU was unable to come up with the game-tying run as Kutztown escaped with the 4-3 win.

Opponents are hitting a mere .207 against McDougall, who had four strikeouts Thursday, in her four appearances in 2014.

Rose led Concord thanks to a a 2-for-4 showing, her fourth multi-hit game in six contests. DiVirgilio, Reid and sophomore catcher Alyssa Morris all tallied one hit apiece. Herndon struck out seven batters while surrendering four runs, five walks and eight hits in the complete-game loss.

Game Two: Concord 1 - Francis Marion 0 (Box Score)
One run was all that Reid needed in Concord's 1-0 victory over Francis Marion. The sophomore hurler scattered five hits over seven innings while striking out two FMU batters on her way to the shutout victory.

The win improved Reid's record to 3-0 on the young season. She has compiled a nearly spotless ERA of 1.37 after giving up just four runs over her first 17.1 innings pitched at Concord.

With Reid shutting down the Patriots' bats it was up to the CU offense to come through with a much-needed score which eventually came in the third inning.

Sophomore outfielder Kristi Benvenuto led off the frame with a single before advancing to third base on a passed ball and a wild pitch. Later in the inning with one out, Rose delivered what turned out to be the game-winning hit on an RBI-single to center field.

Francis Marion appeared poised to answer back in the fourth inning after two hits that put Patriot runners on first and third with just one out. However, Reid got out of the jam by recording consecutive outs off of a groundball to the short stop and a pop out to second base to preserve the lead.

Reid went on to toss a perfect final three innings in just 23 pitches to secure the shutout. The triumph was Concord's second over FMU in the last two days; CU defeated the Patriots 2-1 on Thursday.

Freshman third baseman Courtney Purtell also registered a base hit in addition to Rose's and Benvenuto's singles. The game-winning RBI was Rose's second such the year. She has already driven in a total of nine runs on the season while also stealing a pair of bases.

Rose and Seymour were both named to the all-tournament team for their performances over the four-game slate.

The Mountain Lions return to the diamond for a doubleheader Feb. 15 at Virginia Intermont.