Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 BUCKHANNON, W. Va. – The Concord University baseball team combined timely hitting with elite pitching Friday to sweep a doubleheader at Mountain East Conference foe West Virginia Wesleyan. The Mountain Lions took game one, 2-0, followed by a 7-1 triumph in game two.
The victories combined with Urbana University's two losses at Charleston move Concord into sole possession of second place in the MEC standings at 28-12 overall and 25-9 in league play. CU is now just two wins shy of securing the fourth 30-win season in program history.
With 10 games left in the regular season, in addition to postseason play, the school-record for wins in a season of 36 (set in 2013) is well within reach for the 2014 Mountain Lions. Concord has now won 14 out of its last 16 games. West Virginia Wesleyan dropped to 8-20 overall this season and 5-20 in league play after Friday's losses.
Senior pitcher
Ryan Weatherholtz continued his dominant streak of starts in the opener by holding the Bobcats scoreless and striking out eight batters over seven innings while the Concord offense produced a pair of runs in the seventh inning for a dramatic two-run victory.
With Weatherholtz in firm control of the Wesleyan offense CU took advantage of a leadoff single and accompanying stolen base in the seventh inning by senior outfielder
Bret Blevins to score what turned out to be the game-winning run off of three base hits from junior third baseman
Ryan Johnston, sophomore shortstop
Brad Sullivan and sophomore outfielder
Charles Goss. Johnston also scored thanks to the clutch hitting of Sullivan and Goss.
Weatherholtz proceeded to promptly close out the game in the bottom of the inning by forcing a groundout followed by back-to-back fly outs en route to his fifth win of the season and second straight shutout.
Sullivan finished 3-for-3. Johnston chipped in a pair of hits as well in a 2-for-3 performance which included one stolen base.
In contrast of game one, Concord jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead with a pair of three-run innings to start game two followed by an additional score in the fourth as the Mountain Lions cruised to the six-run, 7-1, win.
The early lead was more than enough run support for senior pitcher
Tyler Coyle, who increased his record to 5-2 in 2014 after allowing just six hits and one run while fanning four batters. Wesleyan's lone run of the day came in the sixth inning when the contest was already out of reach.
Junior second baseman
Jerrod Groves paced the Mountain Lions' offense in the nightcap via a 3-for-3 outing that included three doubles and three runs scored. Senior first baseman
Joey Miller also came alive for a three-hit contest of his own.
Concord will look to continue its strong finish to the 2014 season with two more wins against the Bobcats beginning 1:00 p.m. Saturday.
Â
