ATHENS, W.Va- The Concord University softball team split with the visiting Fairmont State Falcons on Friday afternoon, with the Mountain Lions winning game one 7-6 before dropping a 7-2 decision to FSU in game two.
Concord stands at 24-22 (13-9 MEC) after the split, while Fairmont State is now 14-22 overall (7-11 MEC).
Game 1: Concord 7 – Fairmont State 6
Concord capitalized on Fairmont errors in a three-run sixth inning, and held off an FSU rally in the seventh to win its fourth straight one run game.
Fairmont State took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after Beth Cook doubled to center field to score Samantha Hoban.
The Mountain Lions grabbed a 2-1 lead in the top of the second after senior pitcher
Allie Reid singled to center field to lead off the inning.
Senior outfielder
Lauren Lewis then walked before junior third baseman
Alycea Watson, pinch running for Reid, moved to third on a wild pitch.
Freshman second baseman/shortstop
Jenna Witt then singled through the left side to score Watson. Lewis touched home plate after an error by FSU.
The Fighting Falcons tallied two runs in the top of the fourth after Jenny Stubbs doubled to center field to plate two runners.
The Mountain Lions tied the game in the fourth inning when freshman pitcher/outfielder
Darby Fitzpatrick doubled to left center before freshman catcher
Calli Van Gorden singled to move Fitzpatrick to third.
Sophomore outfielder/pitcher
Abby Beatty drove home Fitzpatrick to even the game at 3-3.
Concord took the lead in the fifth inning after senior pitcher
Sarah Herndon hit an RBI single to right field to score Lewis, who reached on a single earlier in the inning.
The Mountain Lions added several insurance runs in the sixth inning. The first run came courtesy of a deep sacrifice fly to center field by sophomore infielder
Kylie Kent. The sac fly plated senior shortstop
Alayna Furr, who walked, stole second, and finally advanced to third on a throwing error by FSU.
Concord scored two more runs on several errors by FSU to build a 7-3 lead heading into the final frame.
CU held on in the seventh as Herndon struck out the last batter for FSU with the tying run at the plate after the Fighting Falcons plated three runs earlier in the inning.
Beatty finished 2-for-4, while Van Gorden also picked up two hits in a game for the first time in her career. Herndon, Witt, Kent, and Beatty each picked up an RBI.Lewis finished 1-for-3 with two runs scored.
Herndon (5-8) picked up the win in relief, notching five strikeouts in three innings.
Game 2: Fairmont State 7 – Concord 2
Fairmont State scored five of its seven runs in the first two innings as Concord was unable to mount a comeback later in the game.
FSU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after Beth Cook singled through the left side to score Whitley Mongan from third base.
The Fighting Falcons picked up four runs in the second inning to jump out to a 5-0 lead.
The Mountain Lions cut into the lead after junior catcher/designated hitter
Nicole Neri drove a single up the middle to score Lewis from third base in the second.
Concord picked up another run in the fifth inning after Kent drove in junior catcher/outfielder
Chelsea Shepherd.
Shepherd was pinch running for Neri, who lead off the inning with a single through the left side.
Fairmont State added two more runs in the seventh inning en route to a 7-2 win in game two.
Concord tallied six hits as a team with Witt garnering a 2-for-3 effort at the plate. Neri picked up her first multi-hit game of the season.
Kent and Neri picked up the RBI for CU. Beatty and Furr each added a hit.
Concord returns to action on April 22 when it hosts Notre Dame College at 2:00 p.m.
