Concord Falls in Season Opener to Kentucky State

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Concord University softball team was defeated 7-5 by Kentucky State in its first game of the 2025 season at Carson-Newman's Eagle Invitational Saturday afternoon.
 
CU (0-1) jumped out to a fast start, taking a 4-0 lead after three innings of play.
 
Junior catcher/utility Morgan Gleason walked in the Mountain Lions' first at bat of the year and stole second base on the following pitch. Freshman utility Blake Jamerson grounded out to the shortstop, but Gleason advanced to third. Then, senior infielder Courtney Raines hit a ball through the left side that scored Gleason and made the score 1-0 with only one out.
 
Concord put two more runners on base in the inning, but would not strike again until the second.
 
Junior catcher/utility Kayla Sholter and Gianna Sloan-Lebron reached base to put runners on the corners with one out in the second for CU. Jamerson emptied the bases with a two out, two-RBI double to extend the lead to 3-0.
 
CU kept its momentum going when Garvey came through with an RBI single into left field that scored junior outfielder Alina Giles with two outs in the third, jumping ahead 4-0.
 
Following a seven-run frame from Kentucky State (1-0) in the seventh, Concord had three outs to make up the difference.
 
Raines started the bottom of the seventh with a hit by pitch followed by a walk from junior infielder Lacie Lewis and another hit by pitch from Giles loaded the bases with no outs. Unfortunately, CU was only able to come away with one run on a fielder's choice from sophomore infielder Kendall Morgan as KSU took the season opener, 7-5.
 
As a team, the Mountain Lions collected seven hits and drew six walks. Jamerson led Concord with two runs batted in while Raines, Garvey, and Morgan tallied one RBI each. Sophomore pitcher Josi Ervin tossed three scoreless innings in her first start of the season and picked up three strikeouts. Freshman pitcher/outfielder Reghan Hintz (0-1) earned the loss for the Maroon and Gray in the circle.
 
Concord plays host Carson-Newman in a doubleheader Sunday starting at 10:30 a.m.