Concord Goes 1-1 at Alderson Broaddus in Pair of One-Run Contests

PHILIPPI, W.Va. – The Concord University softball team had two games decided by a run in a Mountain East Conference doubleheader at Alderson Broaddus Sunday afternoon at North Philippi Park, losing 7-6 and winning 3-2.

Game 1: Alderson Broaddus 7 – Concord 6
Concord (17-30, 8-18 MEC) came out of the gates swinging the bat well scoring two first inning runs by way of a two-run home run from freshman infielder Lacie Lewis to take the lead 2-0.

Alderson Broaddus (17-31, 8-18 MEC) answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning and would score three more in the bottom of the second to make it a 5-2 ball game.
In the top of the third, CU loaded the bases for Freshman catcher Lorelai Ellerby to draw a walk and score graduate infielder Sarah Thompson making it 5-3.

CU momentarily held a lead in the top of the fifth inning when sophomore outfielder and pinch hitter Kayla McCraw tallied an RBI double scoring freshman catcher Morgan Gleason to tie the game at 5-5. The next batter, sophomore infielder Courtney Raines, singled into right scoring Ellerby and taking the lead 6-5.

But, Alderson Broaddus answered again with a two-run home run in the bottom half of the fifth inning going back ahead 7-6.

Four CU hitters had multi-hit games. Sophomore outfielder/pitcher Rachael Koller was 3-for-4. Sophomore utility Kylee Stacy, Gleason and Thompson all had two hits. Lewis ended the game with a home run and two RBI.

Starting pitcher Caitlyn Bauer (4-9) got her 18^th start in the circle for the Maroon and Gray going five complete innings with six strikeouts and only allowing three hits. Bauer was relieved by Koller who completed the sixth inning with a strikeout and one hit.

Game 2: Concord 3 – Alderson Broaddus 2
The Mountain Lions scored in their final at-bat as sophomore infielder Courtney Raines came up with a clutch two-out RBI to score Thompson for the decisive run in the game.

With the game tied at 2-2, consecutive singles by CU started the rally. However, a double play got Alderson Broaddus closer to getting out of the inning. Gleason, however, kept the inning alive with a single through the left side, advancing Thompson to second.

Raines came up and knocked a pitch into right field to get Thompson in.

Concord went up 1-0 in the third inning off a solo shot by Lewis over the left field wall. CU continued to add pressure by scoring another run in the fourth inning. The fourth started with a single by Raines who was pinch ran for by sophomore outfielder Imani Campbell. She immediately stole second and got to third on a passed ball. After a walk to Ellerby and a single by McCraw, the bases were loaded for senior utility Jolie Privett who was hit by a pitch extending the Concord lead, 2-0.

AB had an answer in the fifth inning scoring two and tying the game 2-2.
 
Lewis ended the game with three hits including a home run. Thompson finished the game with two hits making it her third straight game with multiple hits.

Junior pitcher Nancy-Jo Roberts (10-13) earned the win in relief by tossing 2.2 scoreless innings and holding Alderson Broaddus to one. Koller was just as sharp as she limited the Battlers to one hit, but was charged with two earned runs.

The Mountain Lions travel to Notre Dame 12:00 p.m. Tuesday to wrap up MEC North play.