Concord Gets MEC Play Underway

Athens, W.Va. – The Concord University softball team prepares to open Mountain East Conference play at home with two doubleheaders held at the CU Softball Field.
CU takes on Charleston Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and West Virginia State Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

LIVE COVERAGE
Stats: The Concord Sports Information Department will provide live in-game statistics of the doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday.
Video: Live streaming will also be available for both doubleheaders.
 
RECORDS
Concord is currently 6-12.
Charleston sports a 6-8 record.
West Virginia State has a record of 3-9.

SHUTTING OUT THE NOISE
After shutting out Clarion and American International last weekend, CU has the opportunity to allow zero runs in three-straight games for the first time since 2019. Freshman pitcher/first baseman Caitlyn Bauer shut out Clarion while freshman pitcher/infielder Rachael Koller tossed five strikeouts and allowed two hits in the complete game shut out of American International. The 2019 Mountain Lions beat Salem 9-0 and 12-0 in a doubleheader before defeating Nyack 6-0 the following weekend. Current pitcher/outfielder Laura Thompson batted .571 with three RBI, five runs scored, and a home run in the three-game stretch. L. Thompson started two of the three games in the pitching circle, tossing 14 strikeouts and allowing four hits in nine total innings and earning the win in both games.

Current senior third baseman/outfielder Sarah Thompson batted .778 with six RBI, two runs scored, and a double in the three games.

BAUER OUTAGE
Bauer is coming off a complete game one-hitter in the win against Clarion. Bauer also tallied seven strikeouts in the win. The Lexington, North Carolina native is 3-5 in the pitching circle while sporting a 4.52 ERA. Bauer is the team leader in strikeouts, fanning 40 batters so far this season.
CU's Bauer could see a matchup against Charleston's junior pitcher Danielle Bauer this weekend. Danielle Bauer has a 4.39 ERA in 41 innings pitched. UC's Bauer is the strikeout leader for the Golden Eagles, recording 55 this season.

MOVING UP THE RECORD BOOKS
L. Thompson is sitting at 155 career hits, which has her tied for ninth on the program all-time hits list. Thompson has a good chance of jumping two spots and passing Stephanie Harper (2010-13) with 156 hits and Angela Mazzella (1997-00) with 157 hits. The Prince George, Virginia native could also tie and/or pass Mazzella for fourth on the program all-time runs scored list. Thompson has 127, while Mazzella has scored 128 runs.
 
CHARLESTON AT A GLANCE
The Golden Eagles as a team have a .271 batting average. UC's Mikayla Ferguson is batting .424, which is the team's highest average. Ferguson also has 14 hits, a home run, and five runs scored on the season. Pitcher Morgan Hoppe has a 3.58 ERA, tossing 18 strikeouts in 32.2 innings. Charleston is coming off a sweep of Bluefield State where they outscored BSC 31-3 in the doubleheader. UC holds the series lead over Concord 44-23.

WEST VIRGINIA STATE AT A GLANCE
The Yellow Jackets have dropped five of their last six games. WVSU has a team batting average of .263. Infielder Lindsey Phares is the team leader in batting average (.410), hits (16), and doubles (five). In the pitching circle, WVSU has a team ERA of 7.97. Kasey Murphy is 1-4 this season with 20 strikeouts in 22.1 innings pitched. West Virginia State has a 34-28 advantage in the all-time series against Concord.