Concord Holds Off Bluefield State, 8-7

ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University baseball team outlasted Bluefield State 8-7 Friday afternoon in non-conference play at Anderson Field.

CU moves to 6-10 on the season while Bluefield State falls to 4-9.

The Mountain Lions put the first four runs on the board over the first three innings. Sophomore Trevor Wiersma got the scoring started as he lifted a ball to centerfield that plated freshman infielder Nathan Neff on a sacrifice fly in the first.

Concord took advantage some of BSC fielding miscues in the third inning. After Neff reached on an error, junior catcher Paul Williams ripped a double into left field that brought Neff all the way around to score. The next batter, junior infielder Chad Frazier, beat out an infield single, and an errant throw from  Bluefield State's third baseman allowed Williams to score.
Wiersma connected on another sacrifice fly to score Frazier.

After three innings, Concord led 4-0.

The Blues notched a run in the fifth inning, but the run was answered by two from the Mountain Lions. After Williams reached on a fielder's choice, he raced home on an RBI triple to left center field off the bat of Frazier. Two batters later, sophomore outfielder Evan Webb brought in Frazier on a single to right field.

Bluefield State drew to within 6-3 going to the bottom of the seventh, but Concord was again opportunistic on a pair of BSC miscues. Williams rounded the bases on a BSC error while Frazier scampered home on a wild pitch.

However, the Blues were able to narrow CU's lead to 8-6 going to the final frame.

With the bases loaded and one out, senior pitcher Eli Flynn induced Kevon Moxey into an RBI groundout, and struck out Justin Bowler with the go-ahead run at second base to end the game and nail down his first save of the season, and the second of his career.

Sophomore pitcher Troy Beckner improved to 2-0 on the season after firing five innings of one-run baseball.  Beckner allowed three hits and the lone run, and struck out three batters.

Flynn and freshman pitcher Joseph Lowder each fanned two batters in their one inning of work.

Frazier (3-for-4) and Williams (2-for-3) combined for five of Concord's eight hits. CU's first three hitters, Neff, Williams and Frazier scored all eight runs for the  Mountain Lions. Wiersma finished the afternoon with two RBI.

Concord continues its home stand 3:00 p.m. Wednesday when it welcomes Davis & Elkins to Anderson Field in a non-conference tilt.