2016 Concord Stats -
Carson-Newman Stats -
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ATHENS, W.Va- The Concord University softball team opens its 2017 campaign in Jefferson City, Tennessee this weekend when it takes on Carson-Newman in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.
LIVE COVERAGE
The Carson-Newman Sports Information Department will have comprehensive coverage of Saturday's double with live stats, audio and video. To access the live options, follow the links at the top of the page or click
here.
RECORDS
While Concord will be opening the season, C-N has already played two games this season, sweeping Lees-McRae Thursday by scores of 9-0 and 10-0.
The tilt on Saturday marks the fifth consecutive year the Eagles and the Mountain Lions have played each other. The Mountain Lions were swept by the Eagles in 2013 and 2014, but have split the last two series with CNU.
MOUNTAIN LION NOTES
Last season in a 10-6 win in the second game of the doubleheader against C-N, two current players racked up multiple RBI games.
Junior catcher
Nicole Neri and junior third baseman
Alycea Watson each knocked in two runs. Neri finished 3-for-4 on the day while Watson went 2-for-3 with two doubles.
Also finishing with multiple hits for CU was senior shortstop
Alayna Furr, who went 3-for-5 on the day.
Concord managed to score 10 runs on the Eagles in the win. Carson-Newman only gave up 10 runs or more on four occasions last year.
Concord's 15 hits in game two last season were the most hits given up by the Eagles all of last season, and the 21 combined hits for CU in the two games last season was the most hits over a two-game series that C-N surrendered in 2016.
The Mountain Lions have historically been successful hitting the ball against C-N, scoring at least five runs in five of its past six games versus the Eagles.
Furr is hitting .467 (7-for-15) for her career against Carson-Newman.
Returning for the Mountain Lions as seniors are Furr, outfielder
Lauren Lewis, pitcher
Allie Reid, third baseman
Courtney Purtell, and pitcher/outfielder
Sarah Herndon.
Furr batted .398 last season to lead the Mountain Lions in average while accumulating 74 hits and scoring 50 runs. The Lovettsville, Virginia native was named a first team All-Mountain East Conference performer while also providing excellent defense at shortstop with a fielding percentage of .942. She also lead the Mountain East in assists last season (140). The .398 average for Furr was the highest by a Concord player since 2011 and was third in the MEC last season.
Lewis was an All-MEC Second Team selection last season, hitting .356 while starting all 53 games for CU in 2016. The Kearneysville, West Virginia native led the Mountain Lions in batting average in 2014. Lewis's 179 career hits put her in fourth place all-time in Concord history entering her final season. Lewis is also fourth all-time in career RBI.
Reid returns for her final season as a Mountain Lion after missing the majority of the 2016 season due to injury. Also from Lovettsville,Virginia Reid posted a 1.58 ERA in 2015 en route to being named a second-team All-Mountain East Conference performer. Reid posted 65 strikeouts while garnering an 11-5 record in the circle.
Herndon started 29 games combined in the circle and in the field for Concord last season before having her season cut short to injury. The Berryville, Virginia native batted .330 on the year while also going 12-12 in the circle for Concord. Herndon led the Mountain Lions in strikeouts, opponent batting average, and innings played. Herndon also recorded five shutouts for CU last season.
Purtell appeared in 23 games last season, making 15 starts. The Centreville, Virginia native recorded 12 hits, including a soundly struck shot to third base that allowed Concord to win in walk-off fashion against UVa.-Wise last season on April 19. Purtell went 2-for-4 that game in helping Concord secure a 9-8 win over the Cavaliers.
Juniors for Concord this year include third baseman
Alycea Watson, catcher/outfielder
Chelsea Shepherd and catcher/designated hitter
Nicole Neri.
Watson started 49 games for Concord this year, batting .270 while driving in 20 runs last season. Watson also displayed a good glove at third base, posting a fielding position of .919.
Neri played in 34 games last year, with 26 starts. The Elyria, Ohio native batted .312 last season, cracking five doubles and driving in 15 runs in 2016.
Shepherd joins Concord this season after hitting .377 last year at Potomac State with 23 RBI.
Five sophomores return for Concord: outfielder
Lindsey Stahl, pitcher/utility
Aarron Ward, second baseman
Kylie Kent, pitcher/outfielder
Abby Beatty, and first baseman
Lauren Blunt.
Stahl batted .327 last season in 33 appearances for CU, hitting two home runs and driving in seven runs.
Ward batted .253 in 30 games for CU last season. The Logan, West Virginia native hit five doubles, while posting the lowest ERA of any Mountain Lion last season at 3.45 in 73.0 inning pitched.
Kent started 31 games last season for CU, notching 16 hits and 11 RBI. Kent knocked in a walk-off single to help cap off a four-run rally on March 26 against West Virginia State.
Blunt drove in 17 runs while starting 38 games in 2016.
Beatty pitched over 100 innings her freshman season, going 9-5 while striking out 40 batters. Beatty also helped pitch three shutouts while going the distance 10 times in the circle.
Joining the Mountain Lions this season as freshmen are catcher
Calli Van Gorden, pitcher
Cara MacAulay, outfielder/pitcher
Darby Fitzpatrick, second baseman/shortstop
Jenna Witt, utility
Amber Stokes, and first baseman/pitcher
Rachel Pritchard.
