ATHENS, W.Va- The Concord University softball team dropped its first two games of conference play with 3-2 and 3-1 losses to the University of Charleston on Sunday afternoon.
Concord drops to 11-15 on the season (0-2 MEC), while Charleston improves to 10-7 (2-0 MEC).
GAME 1: Charleston 3 – Concord 2
Charleston scored the game's decisive run in the top of the ninth to earn a one-run victory.
UC took an early lead in the top of the first on an RBI double.
The Golden Eagles doubled their lead on an RBI sac fly from Laura Ashlock in the top of the third to make the score 2-0.
A Concord rally in the sixth tied the game at two, with sophomore outfielder/pitcher
Abby Beatty starting a two-out rally with a single. Senior outfielder Lauren
Lewis doubled home Beatty from first base. Senior pitcher
Allie Reid singled up the middle to score Lewis from second and tie the game at two.
Neither team mustered a run in the seventh inning to send the game into extra innings.
The Golden Eagles threatened to take the lead in the top of the eighth after UC put a runner on third base with two outs, but freshman pitcher/outfielder Darby
Fitzpatrick struck out Charleston's Natalie Beck to end the threat.
Charleston put the winning run across the plate on an RBI double down the left field line. Jessie Rowe helped the Golden Eagles secure the win in the bottom of
the ninth inducing three straight outs to take a 3-2 win.
Senior shortstop
Alayna Furr finished with two hits in four at-bats, while Beatty also finished with two hits. Lewis and Reid each tallied RBI.
Fitzpatrick (3-2) logged nine innings, allowing two earned runs while striking out three.
GAME 2: Charleston 3 – Concord 1
Three early runs from UC were too much for the Mountain Lions in the nightcap.
UC took a 1-0 lead after one inning on a solo home run by Monica Carter.
The Golden Eagles added two more runs on the board in the top of the third to take a 2-0 lead.
Concord responded in the sixth inning after Beatty launched her third home run of the season over the left field fence to cut the UC lead to 3-1.
However, the Mountain Lions couldn't bring home two other runners on base in the inning, as the Golden Eagles kept the Mountain Lions off of the board in the bottom of the seventh to take a 3-1 win.
Furr finished 2-for-4, for Concord's only multi-hit performance of the game.
Beatty hit her third home run of the season and the sixth of her career.
Reid (5-6) notched a complete game, allowing six hits and just one earned run while striking out four.
Concord returns to action Monday with a doubleheader vs. West Virginia State at 2 P.M.
