ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University softball team split two games with the University of Charleston as it won the first game 1-0 before UC took game two 6-3 on Thursday afternoon in Mountain East Conference play at the CU Softball Field.
Game 1: Concord 1 – Charleston 0
Sophomore pitcher / outfielder
Darby Fitzpatrick tossed her second shutout of the season as Concord (9-11, 6-4 MEC) limited the Golden Eagles (16-12, 3-7 MEC) in game one.
Fitzpatrick improved to 6-4 on the season as she only allowed two hitters to reach second base and received a double play behind her in the sixth inning to extinguish a Charleston rally.
For the game, the Pocomoke City, Maryland native struck out two batters and allowed five hits for her eighth complete game of the season.
The game's lone run came in the third inning. Freshman catcher / outfielder
Kayle Starnes singled to start the inning and advanced two batters later on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs in the frame, UC's Shelby Ume dropped a fly ball in center field that allowed Starnes to come around and score.
Fitzpatrick started the contest by retiring the first seven batters she faced and finished the game sitting down six of the final seven UC hitters.
Game 2: Charleston 6 – Concord 3
The Golden Eagles plated three runs in the top of the seventh inning to break a 3-3 tie with CU.
Charleston jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the top of the third inning. However, the Mountain Lions responded with two scores in the bottom of the frame. Back-to-back doubles from sophomore utility
Amber Stokes and junior first baseman
Lauren Blunt to start the rally brought Stokes in to score. And Blunt touched home later in the inning on an RBI groundout to bring CU within 3-2.
UC maintained the one-run edge until the bottom of the sixth when junior outfielder
Abby Beatty homered to lead off the inning and tie the game at 3-3.
But UC scored three runs with two outs in the top of the seventh to open up a three-run advantage. The Mountain Lions were unable to have a batter reach in the bottom of the seventh.
Four of the five hits for the Maroon and Gray in the nightcap went for extra bases as sophomore pitcher / first baseman
Rachel Pritchard added a double along with Blunt and Stokes. Beatty's fourth home run of the season accounted for the fourth extra-base hit.
The fifth CU hit belonged to freshman outfielder
Dani Bloomingdale.
Pritchard (3-6) was charged with the loss as she tossed all seven innings and struck out three batters.
Concord continues its homestand 2:00 p.m. Friday when it welcomes West Virginia State.
