Concord Rolls to 10-2, 12-2 Wins in First Two Games of West Virginia State Series

ATHENS, W.Va. - The Concord University baseball team overpowered West Virginia State to take the first two games of the series, 10-2 and 12-2, against the Yellow Jackets at Anderson Field Saturday afternoon in Mountain East Conference action.
 
The Mountain Lions improve to 18-22 this year and 12-8 in the conference. West Virginia State falls to 13-24 overall and 6-14 in the MEC.
 
Game 1: Concord 10 - WV State 2
A grand slam by senior outfielder Korbin Bostic in the bottom of the first inning pushed CU out to a 4-0 lead, and the Mountain Lions never looked back in the win.
 
Singles from junior infielder Nick DiSanti and freshman outfielder Lucas Cannon helped fill the bases for Concord before Bostic uncorked his eighth home run of the season, a towering slam out to left center field. Later in the inning, freshman outfielder Jared Lavergne reached on a walk, stole a pair of bases and scored on a throwing error to make it 5-0 Concord.
 
The scoring stopped until the top of the third inning when the Yellow Jackets plated an unearned run to trim the margin to 5-1.
 
But, the Mountain Lions immediately answered with a solo home run from senior outfielder Dawson Gragg, making it 6-1.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Concord added to its lead once more. Senior infielder Matt DiSanti ripped a single to right field to tack on one more
 
The offense continued in the sixth as junior infielder Dawson Maynard drilled an opposite field homer to right and senior catcher Austin Hear smashed a home run to left center field as part of a three-run frame.
 
West Virginia State scored in the top of the seventh, but Concord picked a comfortable 10-2 victory.
 
Concord totaled 11 hits as a team with N. DiSanti, M. DiSanti and Bostic each having two hits. CU launched a season-high four home runs with Bostic, Gragg, Hear and Maynard all hitting home runs.
 
Sophomore pitcher Kaden Varela-Payne (5-4) put another victory under his belt, tossing a complete game, his fifth of the season. In seven innings, he allowed just three hits and two runs (one earned) while punching out six batters. He tossed four 1-2-3 innings and retired 12 straight batters in the middle innings.
 
 
Game 2: Concord 12 - WV State 2
Concord's offense stayed hot into game as it scored seven runs across the first three innings and rolled to a game two victory.
 
Three runs crossed in the second as a leadoff walk to freshman outfielder Lucas Cannon was followed by a two-run home run by Bostic. Later in the inning, freshman outfielder Jared Lavergne came in to score on an RBI single by senior catcher Austin Hear.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the third, Concord's scoring continued. With two runners on, Bostic connected on his second home run of the game and third of the day, doubling the CU lead to 6-0. The home run was followed by Lavergne being in the middle of more offense as his double plated Maynard who walked right behind the Bostic blast.
 
Five singles off the bats of M. DiSanti, Gragg, Cannon, Maynard and Lavergne did the damage and gave CU an 11-0 lead. In the four-run fourth inning, six straight batters reached with two outs.
 
An RBI single from junior Hunter Sipel in the bottom of the sixth made it 12-0.
 
With the offense providing plenty of support, freshman pitcher Jonah Adams was nearly unhittable. He retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced. He improved to 3-6 on the mound, tossing six shutout innings. Adams allowed three hits and walked two while striking out six.
 
WVSU was able to avoid the shutout with two runs in the top of the seventh.
 
Bostic, Cannon, M. DiSanti, and Lavergne each had two hits. Bostic's were both home runs as he finished Saturday with three home runs and 10 total RBI.
 
The Mountain Lions play two more against West Virginia State as they aim to take their third straight series victory. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Anderson Field Sunday afternoon.