Concord Splits First Two Games of Charleston Series

ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University baseball team went 1-1 against 25^th-ranked Charleston Saturday afternoon at Anderson Field in a Mountain East Conference South Division twinbill, winning game one 11-10 and dropping the second game 10-0.

The Mountain Lions are now 25-17 this season and 21-5 in the MEC. UC's record goes to 34-8 and 22-4 in the league.

Game 1: Concord 11 – Charleston 10
Game one turned into an instant classic as CU held off Charleston in the seventh inning.

Concord built a 10-4 lead through three innings as it scored multiple runs in each of the first three innings. The advantage was extended to 11-4 on an RBI double by sophomore utility MJ Hunter in the sixth inning.

However, the Golden Eagles had some offensive punch left in the seventh inning. The first six batters reached before a sacrifice fly was recorded, but the fly ball got UC to within 11-9. Two more batters found their way on base to put the go-ahead run at first. However, junior pitcher Eddie Blake was able to induce back-to-back fly ball outs to secure the win and his first career save.

The game started with plenty of action as Charleston scored four times in the top of the first. But, graduate outfielder Kyle Keenan helped CU respond in the bottom of the first with a three-run home run.

The Mountain Lions went ahead in the second inning on back-to-back run-scoring hits. Junior infielder Zack Saryeldin doubled in Hunter before crossing home plate himself on an RBI single from graduate outfielder Josh Adkins.

Hunter was in the middle of the scoring in a five-run third inning. Three straight batters reached to start the frame—one two singles and a walk. Senior catcher Hunter Steel unloaded the bases with a two-run double down the left field line to elevate the lead to 7-4. Steel was one of two runners to score on the first of two RBI doubles from Hunter. The rally was capped by Saryeldin's RBI base hit to plate Hunter.

Five different Mountain Lions had two-hit games. Saryeldin, Adkins and Keenan at the top of the order combined for six hits and six RBI. Hunter was 2-for-2 with two walks, two doubles and three RBI. Steel added two RBI.

Junior pitcher Andrew Neff (10-2) became the second pitcher in program history to record 10 wins in a single season and the first since Jason Sharp in 2000. Neff tossed six innings as he gave up six runs and tallied four strikeouts. Blake got the final two outs.

Game 2: Charleston 10 – Concord 0
Concord had its chances to keep pace with the Golden Eagles in game two, but came up short.

UC jumped out to a 3-0 lead after 1.5 innings as two runs were unearned. Charleston threated again in the third as it put two runners on, but a double play helped sway some momentum back to the Maroon and Gray.

A single, walk and fielding error loaded the bases for CU, but Charleston escaped the two-out jam with the slim lead still intact. A runner was also left in scoring position in bottom of the fourth after a one-out double from Steel.

Saryeldin and Adkins put together back-to-back hits in the bottom of the fifth, but again Charleston got out of the situation with a 6-0 advantage.

The Golden Eagles added four runs in the seventh.

Adkins was 2-for-3 with two doubles. Hunter put together his third multi-hit game in the last five by going 2-for-3 with a double.

Sophomore pitcher/infielder Rylee Nicholas (5-5) allowed eight earned over seven innings. He had three strikeouts.

Concord and Charleston finish the MEC South series 1:00 p.m. Sunday.