Concord Set for Home Opener Against California (Pa.)

ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University softball team gets its home schedule underway when California (Pa.) visits the CU Softball Field for a doubleheader Sunday starting at 12:00 p.m.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
The Concord University Sports Information Department will provide live video and statistics for all four games.

LIVE VIDEO
 
LIVE STATS
 
SERIES HISTORY
California (Pa.) leads 3-1
 
ALL-TIME MEETINGS AGAINST CALIFORNIA (PA)
March 13, 2017: Concord 3 – California (Pa.) 0 (Clermont, Fla.)
March 16, 2014: California (Pa.) 2 – Concord 1 (Salem, Va.)
February 9, 2013: California (Pa.) 11 – Concord 3 (Pembroke, N.C.)
February 8, 2013: California (Pa.) 9 – Concord 7 (Pembroke, N.C.)
 
CONCORD AT A GLANCE
2025 Record: 0-3
Home Record: 0-0
Away Record: 0-2
Neutral Record: 0-1
 
FAST START
Junior catcher/utility Gianna Sloan-Lebron left her mark on opening weekend, going 2-for-3 at the plate, but reaching base in four of her five plate appearances. She got her season underway with a single in the bottom of the second against Kentucky State and came around to score later in the frame. Then, she walked to lead off the bottom of the fourth and swiped second base. In game one against Carson-Newman, the Roanoke, Va. native went 1-for-2 at the dish and added another walk. She also saw action in game two against the Eagles as a pinch runner. Through the first three games, Sloan-Lebron leads CU in batting average (.667) and on-base percentage (.800).
 
GOING, GOING, GONE
CU jumped out to a fast start in game one against Carson-Newman, plating four runs in the top of the first. After an RBI single from junior outfielder Alina Giles, junior infielder Lacie Lewis unloaded the bases with a three-run home run, the Mountain Lions' first of the season. Lewis appeared in 28 games last season before being sidelined with an injury for the remainder of the spring. In her 28 games played in 2024, she hit .349 with five home runs and drove in 25 runs, with 14 of her 30 hits being extra-base knocks. For her career, Lewis has nine home runs with a .555 career slugging percentage in 69 games.
 
EARLY INNING PRODUCTION
In the three games played on opening weekend, Concord scored nine of its 11 runs (81.8 percent) in the first three innings. The Maroon and Gray tacked on at least one run in the first three innings against Kentucky State, leading 4-0 heading to the fourth. The combo of Giles and Lewis propelled CU to a 4-0 start in game one against Carson-Newman and another run in the third inning of game one brought the lead back to four, 5-1. Lewis leads the Mountain Lions with three runs batted in through three outings, while freshman utility Blake Jamerson and sophomore infielder Kendall Morgan each knocked in a pair of runs.
 
CALIFORNIA (PA) AT A GLANCE
2024 Overall Record: 23-20
Home Record: 12-4
Away Record: 8-8
Neutral Record: 3-8
 
SCOUTING THE VULCANS
The Vulcans will have to replace the production of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division Athlete of the Year in Caleigh Rister heading into 2025. They do, however, return All-PSAC West Second Teamer senior outfielder Carlena Fiorilli, who hit .336 and started in all 43 games last spring. Senior utility Kaitlyn Achtermeier returns the most home run power for Cal, having slugged five home runs in 2024.