ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University baseball team lost a pair of non-conference games to nationally-ranked Ashland at Anderson Field Monday afternoon.
After the doubleheader, CU falls to 2-5 on the season while the 14th-ranked Eagles improve to 4-1.
Game 1: #14 Ashland 7 – Concord 5 (10 Innings)
After Ashland regained the lead, 5-4, in the top of the sixth, the Mountain Lions answered in the bottom half of the frame.
Senior outfielder
D.J. Christian Jr. led off the inning with a triple off the right field wall. Then, with one out, junior infielder
Matthew DiSanti was hit by a pitch that placed runners on the corners. Junior catcher
Kaden Swaim followed the hit by pitch with a single into center field to knot the game, 5-5.
After both teams were held scoreless in the seventh, Ashland's game-deciding runs were not scored until the 10th, marking the second 10-inning game by CU this season.
The Eagles plated a run in the top of the first, but Swaim and senior utility
MJ Hunter drove in a pair of runs to grab the early lead.
Graduate pitcher
Zach Powell gave up another run in the second, but was able to hold AU scoreless until the fourth inning.
In the fourth, Gragg and senior infielder/pitcher
Brendan Brady tallied back-to-back hits to open the home half of the inning. With one out, senior outfielder
Demetri Jamison broke his silence at the plate, mashing a two-RBI double to jump back in front, 4-2.
Jamison, Swaim, Gragg, and Christian Jr. all logged multiple this in the game with Jamison and Swaim picking up two RBI each. Powell pitched 5.0 innings, surrendering two earned runs, but it was junior pitcher
Logan Darrow (0-1) who took the loss.
Game 2: #14 Ashland 6 – Concord 3
Identical to game one, Ashland scored a run in the top of the first and CU responded with two runs in the bottom half of the frame.
Jamison led off the Mountain Lions' half of the first with a double into the left-center gap before DiSanti poked a ball into right field, scoring Jamison and making the score 1-1 with no outs. Junior outfielder
Korbin Bostic kept the lineup moving as he was hit by a pitch the following at-bat and junior catcher
Kaden Swaim singled to load the bases.
With one out, Gragg kept his hot streak at the dish going with a single into left field, breaking the tie and giving Concord a 2-1 lead after one.
The margin grew to 3-1 in the third after Gragg drove in another CU run. DiSanti walked to begin the third inning and Bostic reached base after he was hit by a pitch for the second time. With two outs, Gragg drove in his second run of the contest on a ball hit to center field.
However, Ashland scored four runs in the top of the fourth and added another run in the sixth to close out the game.
Gragg finished the day 4-for-7 at the plate with a pair of runs driven in. Jamison also picked up a pair of hits in game two to log four hits on the day. Sophomore pitcher
Jake Robinson fell to 1-2 on the season after allowing five earned runs over 4.0 innings pitched. Sophomore outfielder/pitcher
Demario Faison pitched 3.0 innings in relief, allowing just three hits and one earned run.
Concord hosts Emory & Henry for a single nine-inning game Tuesday at 12:00 p.m.
