Concord Loses Two at UNC-Pembroke

PEMBROKE, N.C. – The Concord University baseball team came up short in a doubleheader at UNC-Pembroke Saturday afternoon falling 12-11 and 8-1 in non-conference action.

Concord is 0-2 while UNC-Pembroke improves to 4-0 on the young season.

Game 1: UNC-Pembroke 12 – Concord 11
Two runs by UNC-Pembroke in the bottom of the eighth was the ultimate difference in the contest.

Both sides put crooked numbers on the scoreboard throughout the game, but CU struck first as sophomore outfielder Andy Szamski brought home senior outfielder Andrew Seigel in the top of the first. However, Concord's lead was short-lived as the Braves plated four runs in the bottom of the first.

Concord answered in a big way in the top half of the second. With the bases loaded, Seigel drew a walk to start the scoring in what would be a six-run inning. The next batter, senior infielder Brad Sullivan reached on an error on what would have been the third out of the inning.

With the bases still loaded, Szamski made UNCP pay as he launched his first career grand slam to give Concord a 7-4 lead.

Senior infielder Holt Cassada extended the Concord lead in the third with an RBI single that scored redshirt freshman infielder Adrian Peralta. UNC-Pembroke plated three runs of its own to trim Concord's

Two innings later, Cassada came around to score on an RBI base hit by freshman infielder Brett Simmons to push the Mountain Lions' lead to 9-7, but again UNCP answered with two runs to tie the game.

RBI hits by Szamski and redshirt freshman infielder Trevor Wiersma gave CU an 11-9 lead in the sixth, but a run in the seventh and two in the eighth by the Braves pushed UNC-Pembroke to a 12-11 lead.

The Mountain Lions were unable to mount a rally in the top of the ninth falling by a run.

Szamski finished 3-for-5 with one home run and six RBI. It was the most RBI for a Concord player in a single game since Joey Miller had six RBI in a game versus West Liberty in April 2014.

Cassada and Seigel each went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Junior pitcher Nate Werner was charged with the loss.

Game 2: UNC-Pembroke 8 – Concord 1
UNC-Pembroke plated six runs in the seventh to push a 2-1 edge to a commanding 8-1 lead.

The nightcap was quiet over the first three innings before the Braves got a run in the bottom of the fourth. Sullivan drove home Simmons in the top half of the fifth to draw the game even, 1-1.

UNCP pulled back ahead with a run in the top of the sixth before scoring the six runs in the seventh.

Seigel, Simmons and Wiersma all had two hits in game two.

Freshman pitcher Troy Beckner was the tough luck loser as he allowed two earned runs in 5.1 innings in his collegiate debut.

Concord and UNCP will play the finale of their three-game series 12:00 p.m. Sunday.