Taylor's Homer in 7th Caps Off Mountie Comeback Win

SALEM,VA – Melanie Taylor drilled a leadoff home run in the top of the seventh inning and Sierra Storm had one of the best performances of her career to lead Mansfield to a 3-2 come-from-behind win over Concord at the West Virginia Wesleyan Challenge in Salem, VA Saturday afternoon.

Mansfield fell to Fairmont State 3-1 in the first game of the day.

Concord scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the second to take a 2-0 lead before Mansfield starting chipping away in the fifth.

With one out, Casey Pearce singled down the left field line and advanced to second on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Taylor. One out later, freshman Leah McGovern singled to left to drive in Pearce cutting Concord's advantage to 2-1.

Megan Miller led off the sixth for Mansfield with an infield single. Hanna Second ran for Miller and was sacrificed to second by Kayla Hahn. Laura Lawson drew a walk, putting runners at first and second with one out. Kaitlyn Hewitt reached on a throwing error but Secord was out at third. Koryn Wickwire then singled up the middle to drive in Lawson with the tying run.

Taylor led off the top of the seventh for the Mountaineers and promptly drilled the first pitch she saw over the left field fence for what proved to be the winning run.

Storm retired the first two batters she faced in the bottom of the seventh. Concord's Aarron Ward pinch hit and reached second on a throwing error. Alayna Furr walked to put runners on first and second before Ashley Inman came in relief of Storm and earned a save by getting the final batter to ground out to third.

Storm was outstanding in the longest outing of her career. The sophomore scattered four hits and struck out one while inducing 12 batters to ground out over 6.2 innings worked to pick up her third win of the season in four decisions.

Taylor's home run was her second of the day while Wickwire went 2-3 with an RBI.

Sarah Herndon went the distance and took the loss for Concord (10-4).

In the opener, Fairmont State jumped out to a 2-0 lead with solo runs in the second and third on a home run by Abby Burgess and RBI single from Joni Tyree.

Mansfield cut the lead in half with a run in the bottom of the third when Taylor drilled a two-out home run down the left field line.

Fairmont increased the lead to 3-1 win a run in the fifth. Mansfield had runners on first and second with two outs in the bottom half of the inning on a single by Kaitlyn Hewitt and walk by Taylor but couldn't push across a run.

The Mountaineers threatened again in the bottom of the sixth when Rachael Sterner led off with a single and moved up to second on a wild pitch after one out. Hahn followed with a single up the middle moving Sterner to third while Hahn took second base after Sterner was thrown out at home.

Mansfield still wouldn't go away and threatened again in the bottom of the seventh. After the first two batters were retired, Secord walked and went to third on a double by Taylor but the runners were stranded after the final out of the game.

Inman started and went the distance for Mansfield allowing eight hits and striking out two. All three runs were earned.

Taylor went 2-3 to lead the offense with a double and home run. Hahn also went 2-3 at the plate.

Hannah Absalom threw a complete game for Fairmont State (4-8) allowing six hits and striking out three.

Mansfield (6-9) closes out the southern portion of its schedule Sunday morning against Shepherd.