BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Wesleyan Baseball team fell to Concord on Friday evening in a doubleheader at Hank Ellis Field. In the first game, Concord racked up 12 runs on 15 hits to win 12-6 and took game two 6-3 thanks to a huge grand slam.

Game 1
Concord opened the game up with a single through the left side of the infield and a near double play that turned into an RBI double over the second baseman's head. CU plated another run on a wild pitch, leading 2-0 after a half an inning. Sam Ingram led off the bottom of the 1^st with a single and stolen base but was left stranded in scoring position after an impressive play by the Concord shortstop to end the inning.

The Mountain Lions were able to piece together six runs on two out offense in the top of the 2^nd, singling to right to score one and then singling to right once again to plate two more. Following the barrage of singles, Concord topped their scoring off with a 3-run HR to left-center. The Bobcat bats came alive in the bottom of the 2^nd, starting off with Sam Ingram hitting an RBI single to score Wesleyan's first run of the game and Jack Tilton found the left-center gap to score Ingram and Eddie Rueda as the Bobcats trailed 8-3 after two innings.

The Mountain Lions had runners at second and third with two outs in the top of the 3^rd, eventually leaving with nothing after a foul popup to Thatcher Poteat. Luke Burner and Eddie Rueda led the bottom half of the 3^rd with singles and Preston Todd bunted them over to scoring position. Sam Ingram dribbled one in the infield to score one and Jack Tilton ripped a liner down the first base line to score Burner, trimming the Concord lead to just 8-5.

CU built their lead back up in the top of the 5^th, plating a run on an RBI double and scoring two more on a single to make it 11-5. Luke Burner had a no-doubt solo shot in the bottom of the 5^th to trim the lead to five. In the top of the 7^th, a single and a pair of defensive mistakes by the Bobcat defense allowed Concord to score their 12^th run of the game. The Bobcats had back-to-back two out singles in the bottom of the 7^th but the game was ended on a strikeout with Concord winning 12-6.

Josh Adkins dominated all game, going 4-4 with 5 RBI to lead the Mountain Lions. Chris Satcher's 3-run HR was key in his 3 RBI performance. Andrew Neff pitched six innings, taking the win after giving up six runs (all earned) on nine hits and walking one. He also struck out seven.

Four Bobcats finished with two hits and Jack Tilton led the Bobcats with 3 RBI. Sam Ingram added 2 RBI and Cole Shearer's solo HR was his lone RBI. AJ Ventry took the loss after 4.1 innings of work and the bullpen pitched 2.2 innings of relief, only allowing a run (unearned) on two hits.

Game 2
A two out double over the left fielder's head plated the first run of the game for the Mountain Lions in the top of the 1^st. A baserunning mishap by Concord almost ended the inning but an errant throw over the catcher's head allowed another run. Sam Ingram started the bottom of the 1^st with a rocket over to the shortstop and then stole second. Jack Tilton walked and Devin Johnson was plunked to load the bases. Cole Shearer capitalized on the opportunity, ripping a single through the middle to plate two. The Bobcats had runners on second and third with a chance to add more but a flyout closed the inning.

Both teams were able to put runners at first and second in the 2^nd inning with neither team being able to score any runs. The Mountain Lions used an error, walk and a single to right to load the bases with one out in the top of the 3^rd inning, setting up Concord's Hunter Steel for a grand slam. Concord put another runner in scoring position in the 4^th but couldn't bring him home. Jack Tilton was able to get to second to start the bottom of the 5^th, being left stranded after three consecutive strikeouts.

After starting the bottom of the 6^th with two outs, Eddie Rueda singled and moved to third on a failed throw over to first, eventually scoring on a Luke Burner double to deep center as the Bobcats would trail 6-3 after six innings. In the bottom of the 7^th, the Bobcats showed life with the tying run at the plate but a groundout to second closed the night out.

Hunter Steel's grand slam led the team as he finished with 4 RBI while Mike Dupont and DJ Christian both gathered two hits and an RBI apiece. Rylee Nicholas pitched six innings to earn his sixth win of the year, allowing one run (unearned) on three hits and one walk while striking out eight.

Cole Shearer finished with 2 RBI and Luke Burner added the other RBI. Sam Ingram was 2-4 at the plate as the leadoff man. Drew Evans was given the loss after four innings, surrendering six runs (four earned) on eight hits and walking four. Anthony Hernandez pitched three solid innings of relief, giving up no hits and striking out five.

Up Next For The Bobcats
Wesleyan will be back at Hank Ellis Field to complete the four-game series with Concord at 1 & 3:30 p.m.