Jesuit Takes One from Concord

Wheeling, WV, Apr. 2, 2010 – Courtney Kurowski and Ashley McSweeney each homered in the bottom of the sixth inning to lead Wheeling Jesuit to a second game win and a doubleheader split against Concord Friday afternoon.  Concord won the first game, 6-2, with Wheeling Jesuit taking the nightcap, 9-8.

Concord scored five unearned runs in the second inning of the first game, and never looked back in route to the opening victory.

Despite losing, the Cardinals outhit the Mountain Lions, 9-8, with Shaynna Johnson, Olivia Wamsley, and Aleecia Sunagel collecting two hits apiece.  Jordan Burkhart and Kurowski each doubled, and McSweeney singled to round out the WJU offensive attack.

Rebecca Gleason had two hits and two runs batted in for Concord, while Samanta Clement added two hits and Kaylyn Klatt knocked in a pair of runs.

Tamara Smith pitched the complete game one victory for Concord, with Heather Hoyt suffering the loss despite allowing only two hits and no earned runs.

Game two got off to an auspicious start when Concord starting pitcher Kristen McClure was replaced after throwing just one pitch.

It looked bad for the Cardinals after the Mountain Lions roared out of the gates by scoring six runs in the top of the second inning.  But Wheeling Jesuit would not go quietly into the night – the Cardinals answered with six runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame.

Following doubles by Angela Petros and Sunagel, and a single by Burkhart, Samantha Kozbial blasted a three-run home run over the left field fence to knot the score at six.

Wamsley singled and scored in the second to put Wheeling Jesuit ahead, and then pitched a pair of shutout innings – before the longball game began.

Concord’s Katie Billingslea homered to lead off the fifth inning and tie the game at seven.  Brooke Bowling then homered in the sixth to give the Mountain Lions the lead.

But once again, back came the Cardinals.  Kurowski launched Alex Brown’s first pitch of the bottom the sixth over the left-center field fence to once again tie the game.  One out later, McSweeney homered into the deep left field dusk to give the Cardinals the 9-8 lead.

Wamsley then slammed the door in the seventh inning – recording the pitching victory and securing the Cardinals’ hard-fought game two win.  For the game, Wamsley pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs, while striking out three.

Wheeling Jesuit returns to action Saturday afternoon with a 1:00 conference doubleheader against Bluefield State College.