BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State softball just fell short in both games of a doubleheader against Coastal Carolina on Friday, May 4.
Haley Stewart sent two long balls out of the park today to bring her season total to four. She smashed her first of the day down the left field line in game one and the second in the bottom of the sixth inning of game two. Both were solo shots to bring in half of the Mountaineers' runs on the day.
Katie Williford, one of the three seniors honored before the games, pitched her second complete game of the season while striking out three batters and limiting Coastal to single digits in the hits column.
Kenzie Longanecker dominated in the circle in game two, throwing a complete game with a season-best 12 strikeouts. Longanecker has 99 strikeouts on the season, just one away from breaking triple digits. With today's 12, she broke 200 career strikeouts with 112 during the 2017 season.
Game One (L, 2-5)
Coastal Carolina scored in the top of the second inning on a two-run home run. App State answered in the bottom of the inning with a solo homer from Stewart. Walker and Walters each singled behind Stewart but were left on base. The Apps tied it up in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two outs, Walker singled up the middle and Walters singled through the right side. Wheatley's single to centerfield scored Walker from second base as the tying run.
Coastal Carolina pulled away in the top of the sixth inning by scoring three on a three-run homer. The Mountaineers were unable to produce any more runs in game one, resulting in the 5-2 win for the Chanticleers.
Megan Walker and
Ally Walters each had two hits apiece, Walker going 2-2 with a walk and Walters going 2-3.
Game Two (L, 2-4)
After two scoreless innings, both teams put up runs in the third. The Chants scored two on a two-run homer. A walk and two singles allowed the Mountaineers to answer back with a run in the bottom of the inning.
Coastal Carolina scored another in the top of the fourth on one hit and one error. A solo home run put up the Chanticleers' fourth and final run of the game. The Mountaineers fought back in the bottom of the sixth after Stewart's solo home run. Walker pounded a ball to the fence for a double to follow. In the seventh inning, H. Josey doubled down the left field line, but the Apps were unable to manufacture any more runs with two outs. The Chanticleers took the second game 4-2.
White, H. Josey, Stewart and Walker each had a multi-hit game with two hits apiece. The Mountaineers also saw a hit from
Alisha Josey. Together, the Mountaineers accumulated nine hits versus the Chanticleers' five in game two. Each team had two errors. Eight of the nine Chanticleers runs were scored on four home runs today.
The series finale is scheduled for Saturday, May 5 at 12 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
