Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 ATHENS, W.Va. – Behind the first career home run from freshman third baseman
Courtney Purtell the Concord University softball team opened up its six-game homestand by defeating West Virginia State, 3-2, in game one before dropping game two, 8-0, Sunday afternoon at the CU Softball Field.
Purtell combined to go 3-for-5 with a run scored, two RBI and a home run, her first at any level of competitive play. Freshman outfielder
Lauren Lewis and sophomore pitcher
Allie Reid were both 2-for-5 as well for the Mountain Lions on the day.
After the split, The Mountain Lions' record moves to 20-14 overall and 4-8 Mountain East Conference games, putting them within one game of tying the single-season record for wins in program history.West Virginia State exits the weekend at 18-16 overall and 7-7 in league play.
The Mountain Lions jumped on the board in the first inning of the opener when sophomore shortstop
Kristen Rose doubled home freshman
Carly DiVirgilio, who had reached base earlier in the inning on catcher's interference.
West Virginia State answered with a run of its own in the top of the second to tie the game at 1-1. Rose limited the runs for WVSU in the inning by recording an unassisted double play with runners on first and third. WVSU's Hannah Griffith hit a line drive right at Rose, who immediately stepped on third base for the force out to end the inning.
Concord responded in the third inning with two runs of its own. With one-out in the frame Lewis singled to bring Purtell to the plate. Purtell proceeded to send a 2-1 pitch over the left field fence to give CU a 3-1 lead. Purtell also drove in her third and fourth runs of the season off of the homer.
The two-run advantage was more than enough for Reid (11-5), who scattered three hits and allowed one run over her final four innings of work to secure the win for CU. For the game, Reid pitched all seven innings, giving up eight hits and two earned runs while striking out two batters including WVSU's Mattie Best to end the game with runners on second and third.
In game one, Purtell was 3-for-3 with a run scored, two RBI and a home run while Rose went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Also tallying a hit apiece for CU were Lewis, Reid and junior outfielder
Jessica Seymour.
Concord's offense could not find its rhythm in the nightcap as West Virginia State scored four runs in the first inning before adding two runs each in the third and fourth to win 8-0 in five innings.
Lewis, Reid and DiVirgilio all had one hit for CU in game two. Freshman pitcher
Sarah Herndon (2-7) took the loss for Concord after allowing five earned runs and striking out two batters in five innings.
The Mountain Lions continue their six-game homestand 4:00 p.m. Monday against the University of Charleston.
Â
