Concord Stats –
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Video ATHENS, W. Va. – After a season-long 14-game road trip, the Concord University baseball team returns home for the final eight games of the 2014 regular season starting with a four-game series Saturday and Sunday vs. West Liberty at Anderson Field in Mountain East Conference competition.
Live Coverage• The Concord University sports information department provides live in-game statistics as well as video for all Concord home baseball games. Access to either live coverage option can be found at the top of the page or by clicking
here.
Records and Standings• Concord is slotted firmly in second place in the MEC Standings at 29-13 overall and 26-10 in league play. Concord is coming off of winning three of games against West Virginia Wesleyan April 18-19.
• At 22-19 overall and 18-14 in league play, West Liberty is in fifth place in the conference standings and is holding down one of the final two spots in the upcoming six-team MEC Tournament. Most recently, West Liberty lost three of four games at Shepherd.
The Series• Concord is 20-8 against West Liberty dating back to 1995. The Mountain Lions have won four consecutive games against the Hilltoppers.
Last Meeting•
Ryan Weatherholtz and
Chris Baker combined to give up just one run while
Ryan Johnston drove in three runs as Concord defeated West Liberty, 5-1, in the opening game of the 2013 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament.
Mountain Lion Notes• The Mountain Lions were ranked fifth in the first NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional rankings that were released earlier in the week. The top-six teams at the conclusion of the season will earn a bid into the NCAA Tournament. Concord has received berths to the NCAA Tournament three times since 2011.
• Concord is 30-10 In the past 40 games played at Anderson Field.
• Concord University No. 1 pitcher senior
Ryan Weatherholtz has not allowed a run in his last 14.1 innings pitched. On the season, he is 5-4 with 42 strikeouts and a team-low 3.06 ERA in 64.2 innings pitched. Weatherholtz, who has thrown six complete games in 10 starts, leads the MEC in innings pitched and ranks second in batters struck out looking (21).
• Nearly as impressive as Weatherholtz's recent run has been that of No. 2 starter senior
Tyler Coyle, who is 5-2 in 2014 and has given up a scant two runs in his previous 21 innings.
• Senior outfielder
Bret Blevins is in the midst of an 11-game hitting streak, the longest streak by any CU player in 2014. Blevins, who has stolen a team-high 20 bases on the season, is 18-for-38 with 13 runs scored and nine RBI over the streak.
• Sophomore pitcher
Chris Kelly has won his previous four starts and is now an impressive 7-2 on the season with 31 strikeouts and a 3.49 ERA in 56.2 innings.
• Sophomore designated hitter
Joe Camp continues to surge over the Mountain Lions' last four series, a span of 14 games. Over the time frame he has racked up 21 hits in 46 at-bats (.457), 14 RBI and five doubles. Since April 5, Camp has improved his average from .287 to .358.
• Junior second baseman
Jerrod Groves leads Concord with 15 multi-hits in 2014, five of which have come within the last eight games.
• After a relatively slow start to the season, Johnston has started to find his way at the plate as well with 12 hits, seven runs, four RBI and two stolen bases in the Mountain Lions' last 10 games to raise his season batting average up to .300.
• Out of the bullpen, senior relief pitchers Baker and
Tim Leather have given up just five hits in 37 at-bats to left-handed batters this season.
• Concord is 21-5 on the year when scoring first and 22-1 when outhitting opponents.
Scouting West Liberty• Leading the Hilltopper revival has been a squad that ranks fourth in the MEC in stolen bases (43), fifth in hits (288) and fifth in ERA (4.24).
• D.J. Busby is batting .360 and Tim Mirandy has driven in 20 runs to pace the WLU offense. The starting pitcher duo of Mark Smyth and Mike Reef are a combined 8-4 on the season.
The Coaches•
Andrew Wright is in his fourth season at Concord. Since taking over the program, Wright has guided the Mountain Lions to a pair of conference titles and a record of 118-86 (.578).
• West Liberty coach Eric Burkle is in his second season with the Hilltoppers. He is 43-45 as a head coach.
Up Next• The Mountain Lions close out their 2014 regular season with a four-game series May 3-4 against UVa.-Wise at Anderson Field. First pitch on both days is set for 1:00 p.m.
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