BELMONT, N.C. – The Concord University softball team rebounded from a loss in game one to earn a split in a non-conference doubleheader at Belmont Abbey Friday afternoon.
After the twinbill, CU moves to 2-5 on the season while Belmont Abbey is now 6-1.
Game One: Belmont Abbey 5 – Concord 1
The Mountain Lions scored a run in the top of the sixth to knot the game 1-1, but were outlasted in the bottom of the seventh.
Trailing 1-0 in the sixth, freshman utility
Blake Jamerson picked up an infield single with one out to get the rally started. Then, junior outfielder
Alina Giles singled into left field to move Jamerson into scoring position.
Junior infielder
Lacie Lewis followed by picking up her 10th RBI of the season on a ball up the middle to make the score 1-1.
However, the Crusaders walked off game one in the bottom of the seventh.
Jamerson, senior infielder
Courtney Raines, Giles, and Lewis all picked up hits in the game for CU with Lewis driving in the only run. In the circle, sophomore pitcher
Josi Ervin (1-2) took the loss after allowing just one earned run over 6.2 innings and striking out three.
Game Two: Concord 4 – Belmont Abbey 3
The Maroon and Gray jumped ahead early and held on for the game two victory.
Junior utility
Morgan Gleason reached base on an error and stole second to begin the game. Then, with one out, Raines drove a ball into right field for a double that scored Gleason and shot CU ahead, 1-0.
In the second, junior catcher/utility
Gianna Sloan-Lebron reached on an infield single with one out. Freshman pitcher/outfielder
Reghan Hintz walked the following at bat and put two runners on. A third straight batter reached as Ervin bunted to loaded the bases.
With the sacks full, an RBI groundout by Gleason doubled the Concord lead, and Jamerson capped the two-run second with a run-scoring single.
Belmont Abbey answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, but CU had a response in the sixth.
Sophomore infielder
Kendall Morgan led off the frame with a single into left field, and was moved over to third on back-to-back sacrifice bunts. With two outs, Hintz drove in Morgan on a single into center field to extend the margin back to two, 4-2.
The Crusaders brought home another run, but freshman pitcher
Mahailey Nicholson shut down BAC to pick up the first win of her career in the circle.
Nicholson (1-0) pitched all seven innings, allowing three earned runs and fanning five Crusaders hitters. Jamerson logged two hits and an RBI for the Mountain Lions while Gleason, Raines, and Hintz also drove in a run each.
Concord travels to Emory & Henry for a doubleheader Saturday, February 22 starting at 1:00 p.m.
