Concord Begins Crucial MEC South Stretch at West Virginia State Friday

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ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University baseball team will now play West Virginia State 1:00 p.m. Friday and 1:00 p.m. Sunday in two Mountain East Conference road doubleheaders.

LIVE COVERAGE
The West Virginia State Sports Information Department will provide live in-game statistics and live streaming video of the four-game series.

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SERIES HISTORY: West Virginia State leads 55-35

LAST FIVE MEETINGS
April 10-11, 2022: Concord 2 – West Virginia State 2 (W, 3-2 L, 3-2 W, 9-2 L, 7-2) (Athens, W.Va.)
May 16, 2021: West Virginia State 2 – Concord 0 (L, 9-3 L, 9-3) (Beckley, W.Va.)
April 11-12, 2021: West Virginia State 3 – Concord 1 (L, 3-2 (8), L, 3-2 L, 8-7 W, 9-3) (Institute, W.Va.)
April 6-7, 2019: Concord 2 – West Virginia State 2 (L, 5-2 L, 15-9 W, 6-2 W, 5-4) (Athens, W.Va.)
April 5-6, 2018: West Virginia State 3 – Concord 1 (L, 6-0 L, 13-5 L, 10-7 W, 12-4) (Institute, W.Va.)

CONCORD AT A GLANCE
Overall Record 22-14
MEC Record 18-2
Home Record: 16-10
Away Record: 6-4

BACK IN ACTION
Though it lost 12-6 to Emory & Henry Wednesday afternoon in a non-conference, the Mountain Lions have had their best success in MEC games this season. CU begins the weekend at 18-2 in conference games, leading the MEC South by one game over Charleston. West Virginia State is two games back of Concord as the pivotal series gets underway. Junior infielder Zack Saryeldin (.437), junior outfielder D.J. Christian Jr. (.403) and graduate outfielder Josh Adkins (.400) are all hitting better than .400 in conference play. Saryeldin has tallied 23 of his 25 RBI for the season in the 20 MEC games. He has also hit safely in 17 of those contests. Christian Jr. has eight multi-hit games in conference play. Graduate outfielder Kyle Keenan has 10 RBI over his last eight games overall.

THREES COMPANY
Junior pitcher Eddie Blake, junior pitcher Andrew Neff and sophomore pitcher/infielder Rylee Nicholas have combined to win 17 games for CU this spring. Neff is a perfect 6-0 in the conference, and is 13-2 against MEC teams over the last two years. Blake and Nicholas are both 4-1 in the MEC this spring. In conference games only, Nicholas is holding teams to a .176 batting average. The Summersville, West Virginia native has only allowed one earned run in his last 19 innings of work. Neff won his start over WVSU last year, 3-2, as he struck out seven and limited the Yellow Jackets to six hits. Blake was edged by the Yellow Jackets in 2022, 3-2, as only two of his runs were earned. Neff needs four strikeouts to pass Trey Smith (214 strikeouts) on the all-time list at Concord. Four more strikeouts for Blake give him 150 for his career.

RIVALRY RENEWED
Two programs with some of the richest tradition in the MEC meet Friday. Since 2010, Concord and West Virginia State have combined for five conference championships with CU knocking off the Yellow Jackets in 2013 in the title game, and West Virginia State besting the Mountain Lions in 2021's championship games. Junior infielder Chris Satcher was 7-for-11 last season versus WVSU with six RBI, two home runs and a double. Saryeldin had five hits and three RBI in the series. Christian Jr. drove in all three runs in Neff's start last season versus West Virginia State. The Mountain Lions look to reverse WVSU's recent success in the all-time series as Concord is just 3-7 in the last 10 against the Yellow Jackets.

WEST VIRGINIA STATE AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 21-14
MEC Record: 16-4
Home Record: 16-7
Away Record: 5-7

SCOUTING THE YELLOW JACKETS
Like Concord, WVSU is coming off a midweek loss—a 9-8 road setback against Bluefield State. West Virginia State's pitching staff, sporting the MEC's best ERA of 4.22, matches up against the best hitting team in the league in Concord, batting .317. Tyler Lafferty sports an ERA of 1.10 in 41 innings while holding teams to a .150 average. The reigning MEC Pitcher of the Week Chase Norris, Lafferty and Nick Loftis all have four wins. Mike Huber and Nathan Paulsen have combined for 18 home runs, but are both hitting below .300.