Concord Takes Two From Shepherd

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – The Concord University softball team continued its winning ways Sunday afternoon as they swept a doubleheader against Shepherd in Mountain East Conference play.

The CU bats broke out early in game one as the Mountain Lions (16-8, 4-0 MEC) beat Shepherd (7-4, 0-2 MEC) 9-2. In game two, Concord broke a 2-2 fourth-inning tie to win 5-3.

Game 1: Concord 9 – Shepherd 2
Concord scored four runs in the first two innings, then added to its 4-1 lead in the fourth inning with four more scores.

The Mountain Lions plated three runs in the first inning off an RBI single from junior pitcher Allie Reid, an RBI double from junior catcher Alyssa Morris, which was one of three RBI from Morris in game one, and sophomore shortstop / outfielder Lauren Lewis' second triple of the season also resulted in a run scoring.

Junior second baseman / outfielder Kristen Rose added to the Concord lead in the second with her second home run of the season to put CU up 4-0.

CU left no doubt that it would win game one as back-to-back doubles from senior first baseman / pitcher Lacey McDougall and Morris plated three runs total with McDougall picking up two RBI. Reid also tallied her second RBI base hit in the fourth.

Morris plated sophomore shortstop / outfielder Alayna Furr for CU's final run in the sixth.

Even though her 21-inning scoreless streak came to an end in the first, McDougall won her seventh game of the season by striking out a career-high nine hitters and allowing one earned run in the complete game victory.

Morris and Reid both recorded three hits as Concord banged out 16 hits against the Rams.

Game 2: Concord 5 – Shepherd 3
An RBI single from sophomore first baseman / third baseman Courtney Purtell broke a 2-2 tie in the fourth inning while Rose added her first RBI triple of the season to push CU's lead to 4-2 in the frame.

Junior outfielder Kristi Benvenuto and Lewis both had RBI in the second inning as Lewis hustled for her second triple in as many games before Shepherd added a run each in the second and third setting the stage for Purtell to break the tie.

After SU drew to within 4-3, the Mountain Lions added an insurance run off the bat of Morris in the seventh to grab a 5-3 victory.

Reid pitched six innings as she allowed three earned runs and struck out three. McDougall recorded the final three outs to register her first save of the season.

Lewis paced the offense with three hits in the nightcap, her third three-hit game of the season.

The Mountain Lions will put their 11-game win streak on the line 3:00 p.m. Wednesday when they host UVa.-Wise.