WILMINGTON, N.C.- Appalachian State University softball's (3-9) offense got into a comfortable rhythm and tallied two wins against Dayton, 11-8 and host-UNC Wilmington, 1-0 at the Hughes Brother's Seahawk Classic on Friday afternoon at Boseman Field in Wilmington, N.C.
ASU 11, Dayton 8
Senior Katie Boyd started off the game with a leadoff triple to right field, but was left there after two strikeouts by senior Sarah Rappe and sophomore Allie Cashion and a lineout by sophomore Meghan Smith to end the Mountaineer's first inning.
Not able to put any runs on the board, Dayton pushed a single run across after Rachel Archer singled her way on via a bunt. Archer advanced to second after a pitch got away from junior Michelle Lighton. A groundout to senior McKenzie Phillips allowed Archer to move over one more base to third and she scored the game's first run after Kathleen Maloof grounded out.
Appalachian tallied two hits in the next stanza, but did not score its first run of the game until the third inning. Smith doubled into left field and Cashion followed up with a single right back up the middle and advanced to second on a throw to attempt to get Smith out at home plate, tying the game up at 1-1. The Mountaineers went down after that.
In the bottom of the third, the Flyers tacked on an additional run after Emily Stegeman homered to left field, but ASU answered back into the top of the fourth inning with four runs.
M. Philips got the multi-run inning started with a single to shortstop. Junior Megan Rembielak reached on a fielder's choice allowing M. Phillips to move over to second base. Sophomore Hayley Grabner laid down a sacrifice bunt and allowed the Mountaineers to have two runners in scoring position at second and third. Boyd was intentionally walked to load the bases. Sophomore Sheridan Phillips was called upon to pinch hit for Rappe, but reached on a fielder's choice after M. Phillips was thrown out at home. Smith then stepped into the box and launched second home run of the season and first grand slam of her ASU career to give Appalachian a 5-2 lead.
Appalachian got Dayton out in the bottom of the fourth in order to give way to the fifth inning of action.
Senior Hannah Dow garnered a leadoff walk to begin the fifth forcing the Flyers to make a pitching change to bring in Alysha Issacson. Lighton doubled down the right field line, putting runners on first and third for ASU. M. Phillips then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Dow to cross home and increase Appalachian's lead to 6-2.
Dayton answered ASU's offensive attack in the bottom of the fifth by scoring five runs.
Alicia Nichols pinch hit for Brandy Brown, but struck out swinging for the first out of the inning. Archer walked and swiped second and scored after Stegeman doubled to center field. Jordan Jennings came in to pitch run for Stegeman and was immediately on the move as she advanced to third on a wild pitch. The pitch proved to be costly as Maloof singled to left field, allowing Jennings to come around for the second Flyer run of the inning.
Sophomore Frannie Seader was then relieved of her pitching duties and sophomore Louise Gibson came in to take over for ASU.
Gibson walked her first batter she faced, but got Lauren Nacke to pop out to M. Phillips at shortstop for the second out of the stanza. Megan Barrett walked in the next at bat, loading the bases full of Flyers. Dana Trotta was the second Flyer to walk and allowed Maloof to cross home. Gibson lost the grip on a pitch and it went wild, bringing in Isaacson. Another wild pitch allowed Dayton to score, but Carlyn Harlow grounded out to Rembielak to end the inning.
Appalachian had one more offensive charge in its pocket as the Apps put up a five spot of its own in the top of the sixth.
Boyd singled back up the middle to lead off the Mountaineer sixth. Rappe got on via a fielder's choice and Smith came through again except with a single through the left side, advancing Boy to third and Rappe to second. Cashion flew out to center field and brought home Boyd. Smith stole second and with runners on second and third, Lighton launched her first home run of the season in the next at bat. M. Phillips continued the Appalachian run with a double to center field, causing the Flyers to dip into its bullpen. Rembielak singled and moved over to second due to a throwing error by Nacke, allowing M. Phillips to come across. Grabner would ground out to shortstop to end the inning.
Dayton pushed one more across in the sixth, but the Black and Gold held on to win the game 11-8.
Gibson (1-2) earned her first win of the season after she replaced Seader, who came in for junior Caitlin Wainright. The staff combined to only give up five hits.
The offensive amassed 14 hits, tied for eighth all-time in ASU single-game history, while the 11 RBIs is now tied for sixth all-time in single-game history.
The four hit, four RBI attack by Smith are both career highs for the sophomore, as well as her five at bats.
ASU 1, UNC Wilmington 0
Despite being edged in the hits category, 4-3, a Boyd leadoff home run in the bottom of the first held up to give the Mountaineers its second victory of the day.
The Seahawks scattered hits in the second, third and seventh, but no one got further than second base as Dow threw her second complete game of the season, tying her with Gibson for the team lead in that category.
Appalachian is back in action again tomorrow at 10 a.m. at Boseman Field.
