Mountain Lions Swept By Shippensburg 10-5, 3-0 - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

The Concord University baseball team dropped a pair of games Saturday to Shippensburg University. The Red Raiders defeated the Mountain Lions 10-5 in the first game and 3-0 in the nightcap.

The losses snap Concord's three-game winning streak and drop its record to 5-7. Shippensburg improved to 6-1 with the wins.

Game One: Shippensburg 10 – Concord 5
Shippensburg jumped out to a 6-0 lead through the first five innings before the Mountain Lions stormed back with a five-run top of the sixth to cut the deficit to just one run.

Concord's sixth-inning rally started with one out before the top of the CU order all reached base followed by a walk from junior first baseman Joey Miller to bring in the Maroon and Gray's first run of the day.

Sophomore third baseman Ryan Johnston proceeded to rip a triple to left field that cleared the bases and made it a 6-4 game. Concord's fifth run of the inning came off of a sacrifice fly by Joe Camp that allowed Johnston to score from third base. After reaching base off of a SU error, senior outfielder Devin Smith ended the inning by being thrown out attempting to steal second base.

However, the comeback attempt was ended when Shippensburg scored four runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth en route to the 10-5 win.

Sophomore infielder Jerrod Groves went 2-for-4 with one run scored. A bunt single by junior outfielder Bret Blevins and Johnston's three-run triple were Concord's only other hits in the game.

Senior outfielder Jacob Mays reached base twice via walks. Mays has now walked 10 times this season and has an on-base percentage of .467, trailing only senior shortstop Josh Wenger (.553) and Blevins (.500) for the team lead.

Senior pitcher Drew Spear (0-2) struck out six batters, including three in the first two innings, but gave up eight hits, four walks and nine runs (only four earned) in the loss.

Game Two: Shippensburg 3 – Concord 0
The Red Raiders scored all three of their runs in the second inning and Shippensburg pitcher Tom Bush struck out 10 batters in the complete-game victory in game two. Concord attempted another late rally, but left two runners on base in both the sixth and seventh innings.

Junior pitcher Tyler Coyle (1-1) was the pitcher of record for CU. Coyle, who was coming off of a win vs. Indiana (Pa.), allowed three runs and four hits in four innings pitched. He gave up just one hit outside of what was ultimately the game-deciding second inning.

Mountain Lion relief pitchers Dustin Nuckels and Kevin Mack kept the Shippensburg bats silent late in the game. Both hurlers pitched perfect innings in the fifth and sixth, respectively.

Concord outhit Shippensburg 6-4.

Smith went 2-for-3 for Concord. Blevins, Mays and freshman outfielder Andrew Seigel each had one-hit games in the loss. Mays and Seigel also both stole bases in game two. The duo ranks first and second for the Mountain Lions on the year with five and three stolen bases each.

Concord will look to avoid the series sweep with a win over Shippensburg 1:00 p.m. Sunday.