GREENVILLE, S.C. - Hannah Dow pitched a three-hit shutout as Appalachian State University softball defeated Furman 4-0 in game two of a doubleheader Friday afternoon at Furman. Furman won game one 5-3.
The Mountaineers struck early in game two scoring three in the top of the first. Sarah Rappe led off the game with a single to left and Megan Rembielak and Katie Boyd followed with walks. McKenzie Phillips followed with an RBI single to drive in Rappe and Michelle Lighton drilled a single up the middle to knock in Boyd and Phillips.
The Apps tacked on an insurance run in the sixth when Allie Cashion hit a double to right center to score Rembielak.
That was all the support Dow needed as she shut down the Paladins' lineup. She scattered just the three hits and did not walk a batter while striking out seven. She did not allow a runner to reach third base until the fifth and gave up just one hit after the second inning.
Rappe led ASU with three hits and Phillips and Dow each had two while Boyd was walked four times.
Appalachian pitcher's have now shutout the Paladins in 13 straight innings after giving up five runs on the first inning of game one.
ASU struck in the top of the first in game one, Rembielak reached on a one-out walk and Boyd followed with a home run over the left field fence to give the Apps a 2-0 lead.
Furman stormed back in the bottom half of the inning with five runs. Stephanie Field started the inning with a single and advanced to second on a bunt by Katie Michaels and the throw from ASU was high. Jessie Homesley followed with a walk and Morgan Hughey brought in Field with an RBI single. Lana Mackey brought in two more with a single to center to put FU up 3-2. Alex Bimonte made the lead 4-2 with an RBI walk and Taylor Beam knocked in a run with an RBI fielder's choice.
Appalachian got a run back in the third on an RBI walk by Cashion. Rappe started the inning with a one out single and advanced to second on a Rembielak single and Boyd walked to load the bases to lead up to the Cashion walk.
ASU had an opportunity to get more runs on the board in the fifth when Boyd led off with a walk and stole second. Phillips followed with a walk but Mackey retired the next two batters to end the inning.
The Apps had another chance in the sixth when Rappe and Rembielak reached on back-to-back two out outs and Boyd walked to load the bases, but Mackey got a strikeout to end the threat.
The Mountaineers left 10 runners on base while Furman stranded seven.
Rappe and Rembielak led ASU with two hits apiece while Field and Mackey each had two hits for FU.
Caitlin Wainright bounced back after a rough first inning, allowing just three hits and no runs after the first. For the game, she allowed three earned runs on seven hits.
Mackey picked up the win, allowing three earned runs, with seven walks and 11 strikeouts. With her 11 strikeouts, Mackey became the Paladins' all-time leader with 645.
ASU and FU play the series finale tomorrow at 1 p.m.
