ATHENS, W.Va. – Having won six of its last seven games, the Concord University softball team plays five games at the Salem Invitational in Salem, Virginia starting Saturday, and carrying into Sunday.
SCHEDULEGannon – Saturday 10 a.m.
Mansfield – Saturday 12 p.m.
Lincoln Memorial – Saturday 4 p.m.
Tiffin – Sunday 9 a.m.
IUP – Sunday 11 a.m.
MOUNTAIN LION NOTESThe Mountain Lions are 10-3 this season.
CU split a doubleheader with Carson-Newman Wednesday after it swept Bluefield State Tuesday at home.
The Mountain Lions rallied for five runs in the sixth inning of game two to earn the split against C-N.
The rally was highlighted by a two-run home run by sophomore outfielder / shortstop
Jessica Burney, her first career homer. In the frame, senior second baseman
Kristen Rose also belted a home run.
Sophomore infielder
Alycea Watson also recorded her first two RBI of the season on a two-run double in the sixth inning versus the Eagles.
In the nightcap against the Eagles, Burney finished with two hits and four RBI.
Over her last three games, sophomore catcher / first baseman
Nicole Neri has recorded seven RBI including four in the second game versus BSC. Neri's RBI total against the Blues was aided by her second career home run, a line drive to left field.
Additionally, in two of her last three games Neri has three hits.
With the temperatures on the rise, junior outfielder
Lauren Lewis has seen her batting average elevate over the last week.
Heading into the Shaw Challenge last weekend the Kearneysville, West Virginia native was batting .154. Now heading into this weekend Lewis is batting .382.
Lewis has a hit in seven straight games and three multi-hit games in that stretch.
Furthermore, the left-handed hitting outfielder has 11 RBI in her last seven contests.
Junior shortstop
Alayna Furr will head into the Salem Invitational having already put together a solid week.
In three games this week, Furr has seven hits and five runs scored.
Furr has a hit in all but one of Concord's 12 games this season.
The weather forced Concord away from the Salem Invitational last season, but the Mountain Lions have had solid success in the past in southwestern Virginia.
Two years ago, the Mountain Lions went 4-1 at the annual tournament with their only lost to regional powerhouse California (Pa.), 2-1.
Additionally, the Mountain made it to the MEC semifinals in last year's postseason tournament played in Salem.
SCOUTING GANNONLike Concord, the Golden Knights made the NCAA Tournament last season, but are just 6-5 this season.
Olivia Gumbita has won five game in the circle for GU and sports an ERA of 1.47 in 38 innings.
Jackie Martinez and Alexa Archambeault each have six RBI.
SCOUTING MANSFIELDMansfield is 6-6 this season.
Rachel Sterner has hit five home runs and driven in 14 runs. She also has a batting average of .441.
SCOUTING LINCOLN MEMORIALLMU is 8-15, but has won four straight games ahead of the Salem Invitational.
Jennifer Moose and BriAnne Schrimpf have each belted three home runs while Schrimpf also has 14 RBI.
LMU has given up 19 home runs this season.
SCOUTING TIFFINThe Dragons are 5-5 on the year.
For the season, Jena King has three home runs and 13 RBI.
In 15.2 innings of work, Kimmy Reynolds has given up just three runs.
SCOUTING IUPThe Crimson Hawks are 3-4 this season and have played all seven games within the last week.
Hanna Mercer has a batting average of .292, but has made the most of her hits with five homers and one triple.
