Concord Travels to Bearcat/Fleet Invite to Begin 2020 Season

2019 Concord Stats - King Stats - Belmont Abbey Stats - Erskine Stats - Lander Stats - Live Stats - Live Video

ATHENS, W.Va. – The 2020 season gets underway for the Concord University softball team Friday through Sunday at the Bearcat/Fleet Invite hosted by Erskine College and Lander University in South Carolina.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE
11:00 a.m. Friday – Concord vs. King (at Erskine)

3:00 p.m. Friday Concord at Erskine

11:00 a.m. Saturday: Concord vs. Belmont Abbey (at Lander)

3:00 p.m. Saturday: Concord vs. King (at Lander)

7:00 p.m. Saturday: Concord vs. Erskine (at Lander)

10:00 a.m. Sunday: Concord at Lander

LIVE COVERAGE
Stats: Live in-game statistics will be available for all six games of the weekend courtesy of the Erskine and Lander Sports Information Departments
Video: Lander will provide video for the games being played on its campus.

HIGH HONORS
On Thursday, senior utility Jenna Witt was named to the Schutt Sports/National Fastpitch Coaches' Association (NFCA) National Player of the Year Watch List. It's the second straight year Witt has earned the preseason accolade. In her career, Witt is a two-time All-American selection (both in 2018) and has been an all-region performer each of the last two years. The Harpers Ferry, West Virginia native has batted .400 or better in each of the last two seasons and has a combined for 41 doubles over that time.

RECORD WATCH
Speaking of Witt, she is already the program's all-time leader in doubles with 52 in her career. Additionally, she also 14 hits away from 200 for her career and four RBI shy of 100. Sitting at 186 career hits, Witt needs just three hits to move into the top five in program history. After a year that saw junior pitcher/outfielder Cartney Schoolcraft break the program record for single-season strikeouts with 165, the Winfield, West Virginia native needs 46 strikeouts to move into the top five all-time at CU. Also in the circle, senior pitcher/outfielder Darby Fitzpatrick needs just two wins to become the fifth player in program history to reach 25 career pitching victories.

MARATHON DAYS
The Mountain Lions will play three games on Saturday, but one of the last times Concord took the field in 2019 was during the MEC Tournament when it was forced to play four games in one day, winning all four. It was part of a 38-win season for CU, a program record, and an appearance in the MEC Championship for the first time in program history. The wins over UVa.-Wise, Charleston, Shepherd and West Virginia State led to junior outfielder Dani Bloomingdale, Schoolcraft and sophomore pitcher/outfielder Laura Thompson being named to the All-MEC Tournament Team. The strong run at the MEC Tournament also propelled Concord to making the NCAA Tournament for the second time in five years.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
CU had several new faces produce strong numbers last season. Thompson was named MEC Freshman of the Year after batting .371 and scoring 62 runs while collecting nine wins as a pitcher. After transferring from Kentucky Christian, Schoolcraft was 18-5 with a 2.50 ERA and the 165 strikeouts. Sophomore third baseman/outfielder Sarah Thompson's 40 RBI in her debut season trailed only Witt for the team lead. The new faces for CU this season are pitcher/outfielder Josie Brewer, outfielder Hanna Hylton, pitcher/infielder Rebekah Markwood and catcher/outfielder Jolie Privett.