Concord Goes 1-1 at Wheeling

TRIADELPHIA, W.Va. - The Concord University softball team split two games with Wheeling in a Mountain East Conference doubleheader at the Highlands Sports Complex Monday afternoon.
 
After the games, CU sits at 21-17 overall and 9-9 in MEC action, while Wheeling is now 6-32 and 2-14 in conference play.  
 
Game One: Wheeling 5 - Concord 1
Wheeling's three runs in the first two innings was enough to secure the game one win. 
 
The Cardinals scored three runs in the opening two frames of the contest. 
 
In the third inning, junior outfielder Kayla McCraw got the CU rally started with a leadoff walk. After a groundout to the pitcher the next at-bat, McCraw advanced to second base. Then, junior infielder Kylee Stacy singled back to the pitcher to push McCraw to third base. Senior outfielder Imani Campbell followed with another infield single to load the bases with only one out. Junior infielder Courtney Raines reached on a fielder's choice to bring home McCraw to bring home Concord's lone run, reducing the deficit to 3-1.
 
The Mountain Lions reached base safely in the first six innings of the game, but were unable to plate any more runs. 
 
Wheeling tacked on runs in the fifth and sixth innings to close out game one, 5-1. 
 
At the dish, Stacy notched another multi-hit game, going 3-for-4. It was Stacy's fifth multi-hit game in the last eight contests.
 
Sophomore pitcher/infielder Madison Hollis (8-9) took the loss, giving up six hits and two earned runs across two innings. Freshman pitcher Josi Ervin pitched 4.0 innings in relief, allowing two earned runs and striking out three. 
 
Game Two: Concord 4 - Wheeling 0
A dominant pitching performance from senior pitcher Nancy-Jo Roberts in game two earned CU the doubleheader split. 
 
With one out in the second inning, redshirt freshman outfielder Sophie Conger hit a double to spark CU's offense. Freshman infielder Kendall Morgan followed Conger with a single to right field and gave Concord a 1-0 lead. 
 
The Mountain Lions wouldn't strike again until the sixth inning, when Campbell singled for the rally starter. Following a WU error, Campbell moved to third base with no outs. Then, a double from Hollis plated both CU baserunners and extended the advantage to 3-0. 
 
Campbell stepped up with a two-out double in the seventh. Raines traded her places, hitting her 14th double of the season to go up 4-0. 
 
Roberts would not allow any Cardinals on base in the final two innings of play, locking up the Concord win.
 
Roberts pitched all seven innings, holding Wheeling to just three hits and no earned runs to improve to 10-5 in the circle. Additionally, she retired nine of the first 10 batters she faced before a leadoff double by Wheeling in the fourth.
 
Campbell finished the game 3-for-4, scoring two runs. 
 
CU returns home, hosting Frostburg State for an MEC doubleheader 1:00 p.m. Saturday at the CU Softball Field.