BOONE, N.C. - Sophomore Lindsay Glover (Greensboro, N.C.) slapped a two-out single into left field in the bottom of the seventh inning to score Mary Lutz (Brentwood, Tenn.) from second base and propel Appalachian State to a 3-2 win over Furman in the second game of Saturday's Southern Conference doubleheader. Appalachian also took game one, 7-5, to guarantee its best-ever finish in SoCon play.
In a ceremony prior to game one, Appalachian honored Jennifer Hurley and Sarah Gough as a part of Senior Day festivities at the Watauga County Complex.
The Mountaineers built a 2-0 lead in game two with a pair of runs in the third inning. With two outs and a runner on second base, Diana Cook (Concord, N.C.) tripled to the fence in right field to score Tiffany Hensley (Rutherfordton, N.C.). Glover then singled to right field to knock in her first of two RBI in the contest.
Furman struck back in the sixth inning, however, when consecutive hits by Jess Matthews and Megan Jaudon plated runs to even the contest at two runs apiece.
ASU's seventh inning rally began with two outs when Lutz and Cook drew back-to-back walks, setting the stage for Glover's heroics.
Glover finished the game 3-for-3 with two RBI, while the third baseman combined for five hits and three RBI overall on the day.
Freshman Meredith O'Connor (Charlotte, N.C.) tossed 1.1 innings of scoreless relief to earn the victory and improve to 4-10 on the season. Furman's Rachel Henley suffered the loss, dropping to 8-23 overall.
In game one, Appalachian trailed 3-0 before exploding for six runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Hensley ripped her first triple of the season to score both Natalie Willis (Cherryville, N.C.) and Kasey Motsinger (Yadkinville, N.C.) and draw the Mountaineers with one at 3-2. Lutz, Cook and Kristyn Hurt (Siler City, N.C.) later drove home runs in the frame to stake ASU to a three-run run.
Glover drove in another run in the sixth inning with a double to left center field to put ASU up 7-4.
The Lady Paladins mounted a rally in the seventh inning as Amber Nelsen started off the inning with a solo home run to left field. With two outs, Matthews walked, bringing the tying run to the plate. But Appalachian pitcher Jennifer Hurley (Asheboro, N.C.) forced Jaudon to fly out to right field, ending Furman's final threat.
Nelsen led Furman with three hits, two RBI and one run scored. Shortstop Joni Lockridge went 2-for-3 in game one while scoring the Lady Paladins' first three runs.
Hurley scattered nine hits over seven innings to grab her sixth victory in her last eight decisions to improve to 9-15 this season. Blake Murray took the loss for Furman, falling to 3-11 on the year.
The two teams will meet at noon Sunday for the final game of the three-game set.