Concord splits with twinbill

By JED LOCKETT
Bluefield Daily Telegraph

Sat, May 17 2008

— ATHENS — Concord University’s only senior showed why experience counts on Friday. Matt Kuntz went 6-for-6 in two games and earning the Mountain Lions a doubleheader split with a double to win the second game 9-8 after they lost the first game 12-6 to the University of Charleston at Anderson Field.
“I was just trying to pick the team up,” Kuntz said. “We weren’t playing as well as we should’ve and being the only senior I wanted to step up just a notch.”
Kuntz’ key hit came with the score tied 7-7 in the bottom of the sixth. He connected on the ninth pitch of the at-bat for a two-out double that scored Donovan Huffer all the way from first.
“I just tried working myself on,” Kuntz said. “I wanted to get that run to score and just battled and battled and battled. I was seeing the ball real well today. If it was close to being a strike I was going to hit it.”
Kuntz would later score when pinch-hitter Kyle Webb drew a six-pitch walk.
In the opening-game defeat, Kuntz went 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. In the second-game victory, he again went 3-for-3, scoring three runs and driving in a fourth.
“He stepped up just like a senior’s supposed to step up and we were really proud of him,” said Concord head coach Kevin Garrett. “He did a nice job. What else do you say? You just go, ‘Nice job.’”
Huffer also led the Lions in the second game with a 3-for-4 performance that included two runs. Greyson Schram added a 2-for-4 game with a run and a pair of RBIs. Will Moody and Tim Merolillo had a home run each for Concord.
Chastin Akers threw 5 2/3 innings for Concord, giving up seven runs on 11 hits and getting the win. Trey Smith hurled the final inning, giving up one run on one hit, but also collecting the save.
“When we can do that and go out and generate runs like we were having to do ’cause today we were struggling at the plate. We couldn’t put anything together,” Garrett said.
“It seemed like every time we had runners in scoring position, we had two outs. And we would get one or two runs here or there but they answered everything that we did.”
Charleston’s Alex Shaw also threw 5 2/3 innings, allowing all nine Concord runs on 12 hits. He had five strikeouts to four walks, but took the loss.
Tony Pagano went 1-for-3 for the Golden Eagles with two runs, three RBIs and a home run. Jim Daily also sent the ball sailing over the center field fence on the second pitch of the game.
In the first game, the Eagles collected 12 runs on 13 hits against four different pitchers. Jim Clarke went 3-for-4 with two runs, five RBIs and a two-run homer in the second inning. Dan Tilche also has an impressive game, going 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs.
Erik Senhal allowed the Eagles to build a lead with solid pitching. In 5 1/3 innings, he gave up five runs on six hits with a strikeout and three walks. The day was good enough to earn the win.
Concord starter Allen Schurdell did not have it as well. He was chased after 2 2/3 innings and giving up seven runs on eight hits. Schurdell took the loss.
Moody was the other Concord player to have multiple hits in the opener. He went 2-for 3 with an RBI.
Charleston (7-16, 1-1) and Concord (14-6 1-1) are scheduled to play another doubleheader today at Anderson Field beginning at 1 p.m.
“We need to show up in the first game. That’s the key,” Garrett said. “Our pitching staff’s got to do a better job the first game right out the box and I feel like if we do that then we’re going to hit the ball.”
— Contact Jed Lockett
at jlockett@bdtonline.com

At Anderson Field
Game 1
University of Charleston...322 050 0 — 12 13 4
Concord University...........020 022 0 — 6 8 2
Erik Senhal, Don Platt (6) and Tyler Boshart. Allen Schurdell, Drew Bailey (3), Kyle Webb (5), Nate Watson (7) and Will Moody. W—Senhal. L—Schurdell. HR—Jim Clarke.

Game 2
University of Charleston...102 130 1 — 8 13 1
Concord University...........031 302 x — 9 12 3
Alex Shaw, Trey Finch (6) and Kyle Root, Rob Ward (6). Chastin Akers, Drew Bailey (6), Trey Smith (7) and Will Moody. W—Bailey. L—Shaw. S—Smith. HR—Jim Daily, Tony Pagano, Will Moody, Tim Merolillo.

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