GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The Concord University softball team started 1-1 as it opened the season at Tusculum Tuesday afternoon at Red Edmonds Field in non-conference action.
CU lost the first game 10-2, but bounced back to win the second game, 9-0.
Game 1: Tusculum 10 – Concord 2
The Pioneers broke the game open with five runs in the second inning as it won the first game.
Senior pitcher Nancy-Jo Robert was able to escape the first inning with just one run allowed as she stranded the bases loaded with a strikeout and flyout to center field.
However, TU homered in the second inning as part of its scoring inning.
Down 6-0, the Mountain Lions responded with a two-run third inning. Putting a ball in play, senior outfielder
Imani Campbell came all the way around to score after a Tusculum error. Freshman pitcher
Josi Ervin also scored on the play.
The four-run margin was as close as Concord would get as the Pioneers put together a four-run rally in the fourth inning.
A first-inning double by senior catcher/outfielder
Jolie Privett and a single from Ervin were the only hits in the game for the Maroon and Gray. Ervin reached base twice by adding a walk. Roberts (0-1) was tagged with the loss, allowing five runs in 1.1 innings.
Game 2: Concord 9 – Tusculum 0
After a quiet first game offensively, the Mountain Lions broke out in the nightcap.
Despite not scoring until the third inning, Concord rallied for at least two runs in three of their final four at-bats.
The scoring was started by sophomore infielder
Lacie Lewis who ran into a two-out solo home run in the third inning. The third inning set the stage for a four-run fourth inning.
With the bases loaded, a throwing error brought a run in to double the CU lead. Junior infielder
Kylee Stacy then laced a triple into center field to plate a pair of runs before racing home on a wild pitch.
Lewis provided two runs in the sixth inning on a two-RBI single to swell the margin to 7-0. The Mountain Lions weren't done as Stacy was in the middle of a two-run seventh. After two quick outs, back-to-back singles allowed Stacy to send a triple to left field and pick up two more RBI.
Armed with plenty of run support, sophomore pitcher/outfielder
Madison Hollis cruised through the Tusculum lineup as the only time the Pioneers had two or more runners on base in the same inning was the fourth.
Hollis (1-0) scattered seven hits and struck out five as she needed less than 100 pitches, 98 in total, to toss a complete game.
Lewis and Stacy combined for four hits, three runs scored and seven RBI in game two. Redshirt freshman outfielder
Sophia Conger had two hits and scored twice from the nine spot.
CU remains on the road when it faces UVa.-Wise 2:00 p.m. in a twinbill.
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