DUE WEST, S.C. – The Concord University softball team went 1-1 on the opening day of the season at the Bearcat/Fleet Invite hosted by Erskine and Lander.
The Mountain Lions lost 2-0 to King, but rebounded to down Erskine 3-2 in the nightcap.
Game 1: King 2 – Concord 0
Sophomore pitcher/outfielder
Laura Thompson struck out a career-high 12 batters in her first start of the season, but a run in the fourth and another in the seventh led KU by Concord.
A leadoff walk and an error helped the Tornado score a run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning to break a scoreless tie.
CU threatened in the fifth inning as it got a runner in scoring position with one out after a leadoff walk by junior catcher/third baseman
Lauren Richardson, but could not tie the game.
The pitching dual between Thompson and King's Casey Gilbert continued into the seventh inning where KU was able to scratch across a run in the top of the inning before Concord's attempted rally in the bottom of the frame.
Junior catcher/utility
Kaitlyn Stewart doubled to right center field to start the frame to bring the tying run to the plate, but Stewart was stranded at third base to end the game.
Thompson tossed all seven innings as she allowed just two hits and two runs (one earned) while fanning 12 batters. Freshman catcher/outfielder
Jolie Privett had two hits for Concord.
Game 2: Concord 3 – Erskine 2 (Five Innings)
The game was called after five innings due to darkness at EC.
The Mountain Lions were able to take a 3-2 advantage in the fourth inning that held up for the remainder of the game.
CU wasted no time finding the scoreboard in game one as sophomore third baseman/outfielder
Sarah Thompson scored on an RBI groundout in the top of the first inning after singling earlier in the frame.
However, the Concord edge was short-lived as the Fleet plated two runs in the bottom of the first inning. And the one-run advantage held up for Erskine until the Mountain Lions' rally in the fourth.
A leadoff single by sophomore utility
Skylar Jenkins was followed by a walk to Stewart and senior pitcher/outfielder
Darby Fitzpatrick getting hit by a pitch to load the bases. Back-to-back RBI groundouts to third base by Richardson and junior outfielder
Dani Bloomingdale gave Concord the lead back.
In the middle of the Concord comeback offensively, Fitzpatrick shut down Erskine in its final two at-bats of the night to secure the win for Concord.
Fitzpatrick tossed a complete game as she scattered seven hits and struck out two. Offensively, she added two hits. Richardson and S. Thompson each had two hits as well.
The Bearcat/Fleet Invite continues for CU 11:00 a.m. Saturday as it plays Belmont Abbey as part of a three-game day.
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