SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – The Concord University softball team played in a pair of one-run games at Notre Dame Sunday afternoon, winning 2-1 and losing 4-3, at Normandy Field in Mountain East Conference play.
Game 1: Concord 2 – Notre Dame 1
Two first-inning runs and a stellar pitching performance from junior pitcher/outfielder
Laura Thompson propelled CU (13-19, 13-13 MEC) to a game one win.
Two of the first three batters of the contest for the Mountain Lions reached on Notre Dame errors (13-19, 12-14 MEC) to set up a run-scoring single for senior catcher/third baseman
Lauren Richardson. Behind Richardson was a groundout that brought in senior utility
Jenna Witt.
After allowing two hits in the first inning, Thompson retired eight straight batters before a potential run was thrown out at home in the fourth inning to keep the game a two-run advantage.
Still maintaining a 2-0 lead in the sixth inning, Concord saw NDC bring in a run on a sacrifice fly, but the tying run was stranded on base.
Thompson (6-8) got three quick groundouts—two assists from her pitching spot—to end the game. The Prince George, Virginia native scattered six hits and struck out four in her complete game.
Thompson added two hits while senior catcher/utility
Kaitlyn Stewart did the same by going 2-for-3. Richardson was a perfect 4-for-4 with three singles and a double to go along with her RBI.
Game 2: Notre Dame 4 – Concord 3
Four runs by Notre Dame in the fourth was too much for the Mountain Lions to overcome in the nightcap.
Just like game one, senior outfielder
Dani Bloomingdale and Richardson were responsible for first-inning runs as their RBI singles scored Thompson and Witt, respectively.
The two-run lead held up until NDC's four-run fourth inning.
Richardson's bat stayed hot into the sixth inning as she led off the frame with her third home run of the season, but Concord was unable to get a runner into scoring position for the remainder of the game.
Richardson and Witt each had two hits for the Mountain Lions in the nightcap as Witt went over 250 career hits in the contest. Richardson tallied two RBI.
Senior pitcher/outfielder
Cartney Schoolcraft (4-8) allowed four runs and struck out five in six innings as she tied the program's career strikeout record at 271.
Sunday concluded the road portion of the regular season for CU. The Mountain Lions end the season with a six-game home stand, beginning 3:00 p.m. Wednesday against Glenville State.
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