SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Appalachian State University softball takes on USC Upstate and Charlotte in mid-week contests this week before opening Southern Conference play this weekend.
ASU is 9-6 on the year and off to the best start in school history. The Apps are coming off of a 2-3 weekend at the Stetson Invitational. Sophomore pitcher Caitlin Wainright was the standout over the weekend, pitching two complete games, including a 2-0 shutout win over Stetson.
A transfer from East Carolina, Wainright has been a stalwart in the circle, posting a 4-2 record with a 1.45 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 38.2 innings pitched. Frannie Seader is second on the team with a 3-0 record and a 2.26 ERA.
Katie Boyd and McKenzie Phillips have been the leaders of the offense, hitting .359 and .333, respectively. Phillips leads the team with 13 runs scored and 15 hits while Boyd is the leader in homers, with three, and RBI with 10.
ASU has been able to use its speed when getting on base, as the Apps are 39-for-42 on the year in stolen bases. Sarah Rappe leads the team with 11, while Boyd has 10 and Phillips and Megan Rembielak each have eight.
USC Upstate is 6-3 on the year and on a three-game winning streak after a sweep of Tusculum and a win over Siena.
Morgan Childers is the leader of the squad, as she has been dominating in the circle with a 5-1 record and 0.51 ERA. She has 82 strikeouts in 41 innings.
Katie Zauner leads the Spartans with a .423 batting average while Lauren Quevedo is batting at a .320 clip.
Charlotte is 14-3 on the season but dropped got swept by San Jose State over the weekend.
The 49ers won their first nine games of the year before falling 5-0 to Boston University but then won the next five before faliing to San Jose State twice.
Whitney Williams leads the team with a .382 average and 21 hits while Serena Smith is hitting .340 with a team-best 17 RBI.
Emily Jeffery leads the pitching staff with a 9-2 record and 0.90 ERA.
ASU ends the week starting Southern Conference play at Samford on Saturday and Sunday, with both games starting at 2 p.m. and Saturday being a doubleheader.
