ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University softball team swept Salem, 8-2, 6-0, on Senior Day at the CU Softball Field in a non-conference doubleheader.
Concord improves to 25-21 on the year while Salem drops to 9-29.
Game 1: Concord 8 – Salem 2
A five-run first inning fueled a fast start for the Mountain Lions as they never trailed after the first frame.
Sophomore pitcher/infielder
Madison Hollis drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game in the bottom of the first, 1-1, before a fielder's choice and subsequent throwing error brought in two runs.
With just one out in the inning and two runners in scoring position, redshirt freshman outfielder
Sophia Conger drove a double to the left center gap to take the advantage to 5-1.
After the first inning, Hollis settled down and retired 12 of the next 13 batters she faced to help maintain the four-run edge. In the fourth, the McMinnville, Tennessee native helped herself out with some run support. With two outs, Hollis crushed a double to straight away center field that brought in senior outfielder
Imani Campbell and junior utility
Kylee Stacy, taking the lead to 8-1.
CU had scored a run earlier in the inning on a Salem throwing error.
The Tigers plated a run in the sixth, but Hollis retired the final five batters she faced to close up the six-run win.
Stacy had half of Concord's hits as she was 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Conger and Hollis combined for five RBI and freshman infielder
Kendall Morgan added an RBI.
Hollis (10-11) went the distance as she allowed two unearned runs on three hits and struck out three.
Game 2: Concord 6 – Salem 0
In one of her final home starts, senior pitcher
Nancy-Jo Roberts tossed her eighth career shutout, and offensively CU used the long ball to overpower Salem.
The Mountain Lion busted out to an early lead as Campbell and junior infielder
Courtney Raines reached with one out in the first on a single and a hit by pitch, respectively. With a pair on base, Hollis drove in both runs with a three-run home run to left field.
Concord struck again in the second inning as junior outfielder
Kayla McCraw led off the inning with a home run down the left field line.
After giving up back-to-back one-out singles in the second inning, Roberts (12-7) retired 14 straight batters before a leadoff walk in the seventh broke the streak.
Concord tacked on two runs in the fifth inning thanks to a two-run double off the right field fence by sophomore infielder
Morgan Cline.
Roberts finished the afternoon by scattering four hits and issuing one walk while striking out five. She needed just 86 pitches to toss a complete game.
Campbell and McCraw were both 2-for-3 in the game. Hollis was 2-for-2 with three RBI and a run scored. CU racked up 11 hits in the game.
The Mountain Lions wrap up their home slate for the spring by hosting Notre Dame 12:00 p.m. Sunday in a Mountain East Conference doubleheader.
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