Athens, W.Va. – The Concord University softball team opens the 2022 campaign with the Newberry Weekend Round Robin Tournament where they face Newberry on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. The Mountain Lions then have matchups with Chowan Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and Sunday at 11:00 a.m. CU wraps up the weekend facing Newberry again Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
LIVE COVERAGE
Stats: The Newberry Sports Information Department will provide live in-game statistics of the doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday.
Video: Live streaming will also be available for Saturday and Sunday's doubleheaders.
RECORDS
The Mountain Lions finished the 2021 season with a record of 17-21, and 15-13 against conference foes.
Newberry ended their 2021 campaign with a record of 20-15, and 11-13 against conference opponents.
Chowan finished their 2021 season with an 8-24-1 overall record, and 2-16 conference record.
ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE
CU ended their 2021 regular season on a five-game win streak, where they split the series against Notre Dame, and swept Glenville State and Davis & Elkins. Junior catcher/outfielder
Jolie Privett had five hits in nine at-bats and drove in three RBI's during the stretch. Senior pitcher/outfielder
Laura Thompson had back-to-back three-hit games, with three doubles and four RBIs in the two-game sweep of Glenville state. Senior third baseman/outfielder
Sarah Thompson batted 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs against Davis & Elkins on May 1.
THOMPSON TWINS
In 2021, L. Thompson was voted to the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) All-Atlantic Region Second Team and All-MEC First Team. She finished the season with a batting average of .432, 51 hits, 16 RBIs, eight doubles, four triples, and one home run. In the pitcher's circle, she finished with 4.12 ERA, 97 strikeouts, 11 complete games, and one shutout.
S. Thompson finished the 2021 season with a batting average of .377, 46 hits, 13 doubles, two home runs, and a team-high 28 RBIs. She had 16 games with an RBI and eight multi-RBI games. S. Thompson earned All-MEC Second Team Honors last season.
NEW BEGINNINGS
The 2022 season will feature a brand-new coaching staff for the Concord University softball program. Head coach
Alyssa Morris, who spent two years as head coach at Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky, is the fifth head coach in program history. Morris returns to her alma mater as one of the best players in program history. The Virginia Beach, Virginia native holds the program record in home runs (46) and RBIs (169). During the 2015 season, Morris batted .393 with 15 home runs and 51 RBIs to become the first All-American in program history.
In addition to Morris, former outfielder
Dani Bloomingdale takes over the assistant coaching duties. Bloomingdale was a career .261 hitter and helped lead CU to the Mountain East Conference Championship game in 2019, earning All-MEC Tournament Team Honors.
Along with the new coaching staff, the Mountain Lions have 12 freshmen that will make their collegiate debuts this weekend.
Â
NEWBERRY AT A GLANCE
Saturday's meeting will be the first time the two teams face in the history of either program. CU and Newberry were set to meet last season in the same tournament; however, the games were cancelled due to inclement weather. During the 2021 season, Newberry upset the top-ranked team in the nation, North Georgia, 2-1.
CHOWAN AT A GLANCE
Chowan and Concord meet for the first time ever Saturday. Before the 2020 season, the Hawks switched conferences from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) to Conference Carolinas. During the 2018 season, Chowan finished its season with a 31-16 record and qualified for the NCAA Atlantic Regional where they were defeated by West Chester (8-0) and Shepherd (4-1).
Â
