DUE WEST/GREENWOOD, S.C. – The Concord University softball team went 1-2 on the opening day of the Bearcat/Fleet Invite hosted by Erskine and Lander Universities.
The Mountain Lions (1-2) lost to Lander 9-1 to start the day before dropping a 3-2 decision to Erskine. CU rounded out the day with a 6-5 victory over Claflin.
Game 1: Lander 9 – Concord 1
After Concord scored a run in the top of the second inning, the Bearcats responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame and added three more in the third to take control.
Sophomore pitcher/outfielder
Cartney Schoolcraft stole second base in the second which allowed junior pitcher/outfielder
Darby Fitzpatrick to score from third after the attempt to throw out Schoolcraft was wide of second base.
Lander scored four runs on four hits in the bottom of the second and strung together four more hits to score three times in the next frame on its way to a 9-1 win.
Four different Mountain Lions had one hit in the contest including Fitzpatrick.
Schoolcraft allowed five earned over three innings as she was charged with the loss.
Game 2: Erskine 3 – Concord 2
A one-out single through the middle of the infield in the bottom of the seventh proved to be the difference as the Flying Fleet edged CU.
Each team scored in the first inning as junior utility
Jenna Witt's double brought home freshman pitcher/outfielder
Laura Thompson to get Concord on the board early.
The teams traded solo home runs in the bottom of the fifth and top of the sixth to leave the game tied heading to the final inning of regulation. Sophomore catcher/third baseman
Kaitlyn Stewart was responsible for the Concord home run which was her first career long ball.
After a groundout to begin the bottom of the seventh, Erskine got a double and then followed it with a soft single that trickled into shallow center field allowing the game-winning run to score.
Thompson tossed 6.1 innings as she allowed three runs on hits while striking out three.
Game 3: Concord 6 – Claflin 5
The Mountain Lions scored three runs in the fifth and sixth to create separation, but had to hold off a late Claflin rally.
The Panthers scored two runs in the first inning, and held that same advantage until CU scored three times in the bottom of the third. Consecutive one-out singles from Thompson and triplet sister, freshman utility
Sarah Thompson, set up junior utility
Amber Stokes to drive in a run with her own base hit. With two runners on base, Fitzpatrick gave Concord the lead with a double down the left field line.
Two innings later, Concord extended its lead to 5-2 as Fitzpatrick and junior pitcher/first baseman
Rachel Pritchard combined for back-to-back run scoring doubles. L. Thompson came through with an RBI single in the sixth to give CU a four-run cushion, 6-2.
However, Claflin stormed back in the seventh as it scored three times and had the go-ahead run on first base when Fitzpatrick got the final out of the game with one of her three strikeouts.
Fitzpatrick and L. Thompson each had two hits to pace the 10-hit output for the Mountain Lions. Fitzpatrick added three RBI. The Pocomoke City, Maryland native also earned the win in the circle as she tossed a complete game, scattering seven hits and allowing two earned runs.
Concord plays Lander and Erskine on Saturday to finish up the Bearcat/Fleet Invite. The games are set for 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
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