Concord Splits Against Wheeling Jesuit

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The Concord University softball team split a Mountain East Conference doubleheader against Wheeling Jesuit at West Liberty Friday afternoon.

After going 1-1 against WJU, Concord is 26-12 overall and 14-4 against MEC foes, meanwhile, WJU is 14-16 overall and 10-6 versus the conference.

Game 1: Wheeling Jesuit 4 – Concord 2
After falling behind 4-0 in the fifth inning, CU's sixth-inning rally fell short as the Mountain Lions lost by two runs.

WJU put up a single run in the first, third, fourth and fifth innings to take a 4-0 advantage, however, CU responded with an elongated rally in the sixth inning.

After recording an out, four of the next CU batters reached.

Senior outfielder Jessica Seymour, who was pinch running, scored on the first of three straight singles for the Mountain Lions beginning with sophomore shortstop Alayna Furr to keep the rally alive. Senior pitcher / first baseman Lacey McDougall and junior catcher Alyssa Morris both recorded base knocks with Morris' single plating Furr.

But, WJU halted the CU rally in the sixth with the game-tying run on first, and then retired the Mountain Lions in order to edge Concord 4-2.

McDougall (12-5) was charged with the loss as she gave up four runs and struck out two over seven innings of work.

Game 2: Concord 8 – Wheeling Jesuit 0 (Five Innings)
Concord made short work of the Cardinals as it avenged its game one loss.

The Mountain Lions set the tone early as sophomore outfielder Lauren Lewis launched her fourth home run in five games, a two-run shot in the first inning. Junior pitcher Allie Reid hustled home on a WJU error while junior outfielder Kristi Benvenuto added an RBI single during the four-run first.

Lewis collected her third RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly in the third inning while in the fourth McDougall had an RBI base hit, and freshman infielder Alycea Watson came around on another Cardinals' error.

The final run for the Mountain Lions came on McDougall's third hit of game two that scored junior second baseman Kristen Rose.

McDougall's three-hit game was her fourth of the season while Benvenuto and Morris both recorded two-hit contests.

Reid silenced the WJU bats over five innings allowing Concord to come away with the five-inning victory. The Lovettsville, Virginia native gave up two and struck five as she improved to 7-2 this season.

Concord will play at West Liberty 1:00 p.m. Saturday