ATHENS, W.Va- The Concord University softball team picked up its first two wins of Mountain East Conference play in dramatic fashion as a pair of walk-offs in extra innings helped the Mountain Lions prevail 4-3 and 8-7 over West Virginia State.
Concord improves to 13-15 on the season (2-2 MEC), while West Virginia State falls to 14-13 (0-4 MEC).
GAME 1: Concord 4 – West Virginia State 3
Sophomore pitcher/outfielder
Abby Beatty plated junior catcher/outfielder
Chelsea Shepherd in the eighth for the game's decisive run.
Concord grabbed an early two-run advantage in the bottom of the third inning. Senior shortstop
Alayna Furr led off the inning with a single to the left side before senior third baseman
Courtney Purtell moved Furr to second on a bunt single.
The next batter, sophomore pitcher/outfielder
Abby Beatty, singled through the left side to score Furr from third. Freshman second baseman/shortstop
Jenna Witt then singled home Purtell to put Concord's second run of the inning across the plate.
West Virginia State fought back to take a 3-2 lead after pushing three runs across the plate in the fifth.
The Mountain Lions tied the game in the sixth inning when sophomore infielder
Kylie Kent singled down the right field line to score freshman pitcher/outfielder
Darby Fitzpatrick, who led off the inning with a double down the left field line.
Neither team could muster a run in the seventh inning, with Fitzpatrick notching three hitless innings in relief to help keep the score level between the two teams.
In the bottom of the eighth, Shepherd led off the eighth inning with a single through the left side. After Furr used a sacrifice bunt to move Shepherd to second, Beatty singled home Shepherd to give CU its second walk-off win of the season and Beatty's second walk-off hit this season.
Concord managed 12 hits as a team, with Furr going 2-for-4 from the plate, while Beatty notched three hits in five at-bats.
Kent notched her third multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-4 in the batter's box.
Fitzpatrick (4-2), picked up the win in relief.
GAME 2: Concord 8 – West Virginia State 7
Concord erased a 6-0 deficit in the fifth inning, and then walked off for a second straight game in the ninth inning on a two-run double from Witt.
The Yellow Jackets took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, before adding two more runs in the top of the third to take a 3-0 lead after three.
WVSU picked up three more runs in the top of the fifth to put Concord in a 6-0 hole after the top of the fifth inning.
Concord began its comeback by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, with Kent singling to the pitcher to get Concord's first runner on base. Purtell then walked to set up Beatty with runners on first and second.
Beatty smashed her fourth home run of the season, and second in as many days, over the left field fence to give Concord a boost and make the score 6-3 after five innings.
After not scoring in the sixth inning, the Mountain Lions drove in three runs in its final regulation at-bat.
With Furr and Purtell on the corners, Beatty provided a timely hit with runners on, smacking a triple to right field to clear the bases and bring Concord to within one.
Reid provided the tying RBI, singling Beatty home from third base to send the game into extra innings at 6-6.
Neither team managed to score a run in the eighth inning.
WVSU took a one-run lead in the top of the ninth inning, 7-6 on unearned run.
However, the Mountain Lions rallied once again with the game on the line, as Beatty started the proceedings with a single up the middle.
Reid then helped move Beatty to second on a sacrifice bunt before senior outfielder
Lauren Lewis reached on an error by the Yellow Jackets. Lewis then stole second to put the game-winning run in scoring position.
Witt drove a double to right center to score Beatty and Lewis and give Concord consecutive walk-off wins versus WVSU.
Fitzpatrick (5-2), picked up the win in one inning of relief for Concord.
Furr added three more hits with a run scored, while Beatty knocked in a career-high five RBI on three hits. Witt added two RBI, with Reid picking up the other RBI. Kent and Reid each finished with two hits.
Concord hosts West Virginia Wesleyan and Glenville State on Saturday and Sunday.
