ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University baseball team earned a split with Wheeling Jesuit Monday afternoon in Mountain East Conference play at Anderson Field as WJU took the first game 8-6, but CU rallied to win game two 19-4.
Concord's record is 7-12 overall and 2-2 in the MEC while WJU is 4-11 overall and 3-1 in the league.
Game 1: Wheeling Jesuit 8 – Concord 6The Cardinals scored six runs in the fourth inning to take control of the game as they went on to win the first game of the day.
A solo home run by Wheeling Jesuit in the top of the second was answered by a two-run single from freshman infielder
Brett Simmons that scored sophomore infielder
Chad Frazier and sophomore catcher
Paul Williams.
After a run by WJU in the third to tie the game, the bats for both sides came alive in the fourth.
The Cardinals made the most of a CU error as they scored three runs in the inning after Concord could have recorded the final out of the inning, and WJU plated a total of six runs in the frame. However, the Mountain Lions' offense would respond in the bottom half.
A bases-loaded walk drawn by sophomore outfielder
Andy Szamski and an RBI single by redshirt freshman infielder
Trevor Wiersma got CU back to within 8-4 before redshirt freshman outfielder
Jordan Clark singled home senior infielder
Brad Sullivan and Szamski.
With an action-packed fourth inning complete, both teams were only able to get seven combined runners on base over the final three innings of play as Concord fell 8-6.
Williams had the only multi-hit game for the Maroon and Gray, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Clark and Simmons each had two RBI while Szamski reached base in all four plate appearances, going 1-for-1 with three walks.
Freshman pitcher
Troy Beckner (0-4) gave up eight runs (four earned) on seven hits as he struck out five batters in 3.2 innings of work. Sophomore pitcher
Reece Edwards allowed just two base runners in his relief appearances of 3.1 innings.
Game 2: Concord 19 – Wheeling Jesuit 4Concord put 10 runs on the board in the first inning as it cruised to a 19-4 win in the nightcap to secure a split.
In the first inning, CU took advantage of three WJU errors as Cassada, Clark, Sullivan, Szamski and Wiersma all had a single RBI in the frame while Frazier drove in two runs as he rounded the bases on a fielding blunder by Wheeling Jesuit's center field to score himself on the same play.
The 10-run inning was the most runs the Mountain Lions have scored in a single inning since April 24, 2013 against Bluefield State.
CU also had a four-run inning in the sixth which was highlighted a by a two-run triple from Williams.
In nine innings, Concord was only retired in order once.
Cassada led the offense in game two as he went 4-for-5 with a career-high three doubles, three runs scored and two RBI.
Clark, senior outfielder
Andrew Seigel and Wiersma each had three hits in the game as Seigel added three runs scored. Meanwhile, Frazier and Williams each collected three RBI in game two.
Junior pitcher
Nate Werner provided his strongest outing of the season by tossing seven innings and limiting WJU to five hits and three unearned runs. Werner also fanned six batters.
Concord plays Bluefield State 6:00 p.m. Wednesday at Hunnicutt Field in Princeton, West Virginia.
