INSTITUTE, W.Va. –West Virginia State Baseball returned to the win column Sunday, picking up a pair of victories over Mountain East Conference divisional foe, Concord, each by scores of 3-2 at Cal Bailey Field.

The Yellow Jackets won Game 1 in come-from-behind fashion, earning the victory on a "walk-off" walk in extra innings, and then repeated the process in the nightcap to earn the sweep.

Graduate student Matt Harrison led the WVSU offense, cranking out four hits, including a double and scoring the ultimately game-winning run in the finale.

Sophomore Trey Junkins blasted his second long ball of the season and tallied three total RBI on the day.

GAME 1: WVSU 3, CONCORD 2 (EIGHT INNINGS)

Graduate student Ethan Lauchart delivered a dynamic performance on the mound, throwing all eight innings and striking out 12 for his third win of the season.

The Mountain Lions broke first, as the second batter of the game cranked a solo shot to left center to give Concord an early 1-0 lead. A passed ball brought home another Mountain Lion in the fifth, adding an insurance run, up 2-0.
Infielder Christopher Jordan, who led off the sixth with a double down the right field line, advanced to third on a fly out from Harrison and then plated the Yellow Jackets first run on a wild pitch.

A leadoff homer from Junkins tied the contest in the seventh, and State then worked the small ball routine in the eighth to plate the winning run. Junior Michael Stone earned a walk to begin the frame, and then advanced to second on a sac bunt from Jordan. Senior Andrew Stone then sliced a laser back up the middle to move his brother to third, and outfielder Jared Hunt exhibited patience, working a walk to load the bases.

Concord went to its bullpen, bringing in a southpaw to face the lefty Junkins. He, too, displayed extreme patience at the plate, earning a free pass to walk in Michael Stone.

It was the Yellow Jackets' second extra-inning victory in as many contests.

GAME 2: WVSU 3, CONCORD 2

Late-inning reliever Jacob Bradley actually started Game 2, and tossed two shutout frames, striking out three while not allowing any walks or hits.

Despite State getting a runner on in each of the first two innings, it was Concord who broke the blank first, capitalizing on a walk, two stolen bases, and a sacrifice fly to take a 1-0 lead in the third.

WVSU quickly responded in the bottom of the inning with shortstop Brett Christian leading off the frame with a single, advancing two bases on a long single from Michael Stone, and then scoring on a bunt single from Hunt. Stone then scored on Harrison's first of three hard-hit singles on the day.

Harrison and Junkins continued to play hero later in the game, after Harrison led off the sixth with a single, took second on a single from outfielder Matthew Kline, and then scored on a single through the left side from Junkins to plate the ultimate winning run.

Senior Daniel Brandon earned the win to move to 3-0 on the year, and sophomore Tyler Lafferty pitched three innings of shutout work and did not surrender a hit.

UP NEXT

The two squads conclude their four-game series Monday with another twinbill at Cal Bailey Field. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available.