WISE - - UVa-Wise and Concord split a pair of one-run games in a doubleheader at Stallard Field Friday afternoon. The visiting Mountain Lions claimed a 3-2 win in the opener before the Cavaliers sent their seniors out with a victory, 16-15 in game two.
GAME TWO
An offensive slugfest that featured a combined 41 hits and 31 runs culminated with a game-winning two-run homerun off the bat of UVa-Wise (19-29, 9-21 MEC) catcher Ryan Dickt in the bottom of the eighth inning.
The homer was the second of the game by Dickt who knocked in four runs and scored three times in his final game at Stallard Field.
Concord (22-24, 16-14 MEC) got the scoring going in the top of the first when Trevor Wiersma knocked in Brad Sullivan. The Mountain Lions would not score again until the top of the fifth but, the Cavs plated a pair of runs in the first, third and fourth innings to take a 6-1 lead.
Tye Marshall hit a two-run homer in the home first before Dickt hit the first of his two-run homeruns in the second to make it a 4-1 game.
Marcus Elmore hit the Cavs' third two-run homer of the game in the fourth inning to make it a 6-1 game.
Concord scored three times in the fifth as Sullivan, Chad Frazier and Jordan Clark had an RBI each to cut the lead to two at 6-4.
The Mountain Lions seemingly put the game away by scoring eight times in their next two trips to the plate. Concord's six-run sixth was highlighted by a three-run triple off the bat of Frazier. Wiersma added a two-run homer in the big inning.
Sullivan doubled in a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to make it 12-6 in favor of the visitors going to the home seventh.
Seven consecutive Cavs would reach base in the bottom of the seventh. Vinny Kuchenbuch, David Thomas and Matt Wright would have an RBI each to get UVa-Wise within three at 12-9 before Elmore cleared the bases with a three-run double to tie the game.
Clark homered to lead off the top of the eighth to put Concord in front 13-12 before Andy Szamski scored on a double play ball. The Mountain Lions plated their 15th run on an RBI bunt base hit by Andrew Seigel.
Concord was on the verge of scoring at least one more run when Sullivan lifted a deep fly ball to left centerfield. Elmore raced to the gap and dove into the wall to secure the catch and end the threat.
Trailing 15-12, UVa-Wise got to work quickly in the home half of the eighth. Marshall reached on a fielding error to lead off the frame before Kuchenbuch walked to put two men on. Thomas would cut the lead to one at 15-14 when he tripled to centerfield. An out later, Dickt hit his game-winning opposite field two-run homer.
Freshman Kellin Larkin came out of the bullpen to retire Concord in order in the top of the ninth to record his second collegiate save.
Elmore finished the game 4-5 with five RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base while Thomas also finished 4-5 with four runs scored and three RBIs. Coffman added two hits as did Marshall and Dickt in the come from behind victory.
Sullivan lined a game-high five hits in defeat while Seigel finished with three hits.
GAME ONE
Errors plagued UVa-Wise in the opener as Concord scored an unearned run in the top of the seventh to post the 3-2 win. The unearned run was the second of the game against UVa-Wise who tied the game in the home sixth on a two-run homer by Coffman.
Marshall joined Coffman with two hits in the loss while Frazier and Holt Casada led Concord with two hits each.
The same two teams will be back at it Sunday when the series concludes with a doubleheader at Concord. First pitch of game one is slated for 1 p.m.
