ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University softball team dropped two tough games to Charleston, 6-3 and 5-3, Saturday afternoon in a Mountain East Conference doubleheader at the CU Softball Field.
Game 1: Charleston 6 – Concord 3
Four unanswered runs by Charleston (18-8, 2-0 MEC) in the middle innings turned out to be the difference in the contest as Concord (10-10, 0-2 MEC) could not overcome the deficit.
Each team scored in the first inning as senior infielder
Lacie Lewis tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first with her third home run of the season.
The score remained knotted until the top of the fourth inning when UC plated two runs. The Golden Eagles added a run each in the fifth and sixth innings. Concord was able to get back on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth when freshman catcher/infielder
Hannah Niten connected on two-run home run to left field. Her first career long ball also scored sophomore utility
Kristy McCord.
The home run by Niten cut the deficit from 5-1 to 5-3.
Charleston was able to get run across in the top of the seventh for the final margin.
Lewis and McCord each had two hits in the game. Both of Lewis' hits went for extra bases as she added a double in the fifth. Senior outfielder
Morgan Gleason reached base twice.
Senior pitcher/infielder
Madison Hollis (7-3) allowed four earned runs in seven innings of work.
Game 2: Charleston 5 – Concord 3
The Mountain Lions let a 3-2 lead slip away in the top of the seventh as it fell by two runs in the nightcap.
Again, both teams scored in the first inning with Hollis evening the game on an RBI single in the bottom of the first that scored Lewis, who had walked earlier in the inning. The next batter, McCord, was able to get Niten in on a sacrifice fly to push the Mountain Lions ahead.
In the circle, sophomore pitcher/outfielder
Reghan Hintz held the UC offense in check as the Golden Eagles did not record a hit until the top of the third, and it was the only hit for Charleston through the first five innings.
Hollis provided her second home run of the season, an opposite drive in the bottom of the fourth, to extend the lead to 3-1. Charleston did scratch across run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly, but Hintz stranded the tying run to end the threat.
The Golden Eagles went ahead 5-3 on the strength of three hits in the seventh. The rally started after a 15-pitch walk to the leadoff hitter.
Hollis accounted for three of Concord's five hits in the contest. She drove in two runs.
Hintz (2-6) was the hard-luck loser as she only allowed two earned runs. She struck out eight batters which was one shy of her career high.
The Mountain Lions welcome West Virginia State to the CU Softball Field 2:00 p.m. Sunday.
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