BECKLEY, W.Va. – Behind a seven-run fifth inning, the Concord University baseball team won its opening game of the Mountain East Conference Tournament Thursday afternoon at Linda K. Epling Stadium by defeating West Virginia State 13-8.
The Mountain Lions began the scoring in the third inning as senior outfielder
T.J. Brockway plated two runs with a single and senior first baseman
Ryan Johnston added an RBI double in the frame.
After adding two runs in the fourth inning on an RBI groundout by senior outfielder
Jerrod Groves and a run-scoring single by freshman
Andy Szamski, the bats exploded for seven runs in the fifth as CU sent 10 hitters to the plate.
Junior outfielder
Andrew Seigel drew a bases-loaded walk and Groves was hit by a pitch with the bases juiced before Szamski's two-run base knock gave the Mountain Lions four runs in the inning. Groves and Szamski scampered home on an error by the Yellow Jackets.
The scoring in the fifth concluded with Brockway's single that plated redshirt freshman catcher
Paul Williams to give CU a commanding 12-0 lead.
After CU ran its lead to 13-3 heading to the ninth, WVSU attempted a furious rally, but were only able to reduce the deficit to 13-8. Freshman pitcher
Reece Edwards was able to induce a game-ending double play with two runners to record the final two outs and seal the win for Concord.
Junior pitcher
Chris Kelly (8-2) earned a win at the MEC Tournament for the second straight year as he tossed 8.1 innings.
Brockway and Szamski both had two hits and three RBI for the Mountain Lions. Redshirt freshman infielder
Chad Frazier and Johnston also had two hits with Frazier scoring three runs and Johnston adding an RBI.
Seigel had a team-high three hits and also scored three runs.
Concord will play 7:00 p.m. Friday against Notre Dame in the MEC Tournament.
Â
