ATHENS, W.Va. – In a pair of classic pitching duels, the Concord University Mountain Lions defeated the Bluefield University Rams in softball play Monday afternoon at the CU Softball Field. The Lions took the opener 4-0 and the nightcap 3-2.
In the opening game the Rams' Hallie Cox retired the first 11 batters that came to the plate. Concord got its first hit and run in the fourth inning. The Mountain Lions added three insurance runs in the seventh inning. Bluefield managed only three singles in the contest. Cox suffered the loss for the Rams. She picked up five strikeouts in five-and-a-third innings. Alexis McDuffie got the final two outs via strikeout.
Game two saw Concord score once in the first and again in the third to take a 2-0 lead. Bluefield tied the game in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Kristina Sanchez, and an RBI single by Macy Martin. CU scored the go ahead and eventual winning run in the bottom of the sixth for a 3-2 win. Gianna Sloan-Lebron was 2-for-3 and collected half of Bluefield's four hits.
The Rams are back in action Tuesday at Appalachian Athletic Conference opponent Milligan.