WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Concord University softball team split two games with PSAC West Division teams Tuesday morning at The Spring Games, falling to Clarion, 10-5, and defeating Edinboro, 12-9.
The Mountain Lions have a record of 9-5.
Game 1: Clarion 10 – Concord 5
Concord erased an early 3-0 deficit, but seven unanswered runs by the Golden Eagles in the later innings was the difference in the game.
Clarion plated three runs in the first innings to jump up early on the Mountain Lions. CU was quick to respond, though, with five runs in the second.
With two on and one out in the frame, junior infielder
Kassidy Garvey drove a double to right center field to get the scoring started. Now with two outs and the bases loaded, junior infielder
Courtney Raines emptied the bags with a double to left field. Sophomore infielder
Lacie Lewis capped the scoring with her own double to left center field to bring in Raines.
Clarion got a run closer in the fourth, but freshman pitcher
Josi Ervin stranded runners on the corners to keep Concord ahead.
The Golden Eagles struck for four runs in the sixth and added two more tallies in the seventh.
Raines and Lewis both had two hits with a double. Raines recorded three RBI.
Ervin (2-1) was the pitcher of record in relief as she allowed five earned runs in six innings. She struck out four.
Game 2: Concord 12 – Edinboro 9
The Mountain Lions nearly let an 8-0 lead slip away, but scored enough runs late to come up with a three-run victory.
CU scored three runs in both the first and second innings to go up 6-0 on the Fighting Scots. Sophomore pitcher/infielder
Madison Hollis had two RBI in the three-run second.
Edinboro scored three times in bottom of the fourth inning to cut into the Concord lead. However, the Maroon and Gray answered with three runs in the fifth to restore an eight-run lead, 11-3. Run-scoring singles from freshman infielder
Kendall Morgan and Hollis were included in the rally.
But, the Fighting Scots weren't done as they brought in six runs during the bottom of the fifth to draw within 11-9. Ervin was able to escape trouble and keep the two-run advantage.
An RBI single from senior outfielder
Imani Campbell was a needed insurance run in the seventh as her base knock scored senior catcher/outfielder
Jolie Privett who had a one-out double earlier in the frame.
CU registered a season-high 15 hits. Campbell and Morgan were at the forefront of the offense. Campbell was a perfect 4-for-4 in the contest with three runs scored. Morgan finished 3-of-4 with three RBI and two runs. Hollis and Lewis both had two hits. Lewis touched home plate three times, and Hollis recorded three RBI.
In relief once again, Ervin (3-1) tossed 2.1 of shutout ball to earn the decision. Hollis allowed two earned runs in 4.2 innings.
The Mountain Lions are off from again in Florida Wednesday, but will return to the diamond to play Minnesota State (9:00 a.m.) and Minnesota-Crookston (11:15 a.m.) Thursday.
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