WILMINGTON, N.C.- Appalachian State University softball (5-9) completed a sweep of the tournament field at the Seahawk Classic by run ruling Gardner-Webb, 10-0, in five innings and knocking off host-UNC Wilmington for the second time, 11-3.
ASU 10, Gardner-Webb 0
The Mountaineers were slow out of the gates in its first game of the morning by only collecting one hit through two innings, but turned it on in the third stanza.
Senior Sarah Rappe began the third by singling to shortstop to give ASU only its third base runner of the game. Senior Katie Boyd grounded out to third base, advancing Rappe and she continued her terror on the base path by stealing third, making the SoCon's steals leader from a year ago, a perfect eight-for-eight on the season. Junior Megan Rembielak bunted her way on in an attempt to squeeze Rappe home, but no movement was made. Rembielak stole second, giving the Apps runners on second and third. Sophomore Meghan Smith flew out to right field and allowed Rappe to plate the Mountaineers' and game's first run.
Sophomore Allie Cashion walked in the next at bat and senior Hannah Dow singled to right field, scoring Rembielak and allowing Cashion to make it to third, sparking the Runnin' Bulldogs to make a pitching change, bringing in Presley Wesson for Jessica Childers. Dow advanced to second on a pass ball and junior Michelle Lighton singled, moving over to second after GWU tried to throw out Cashion at the plate. With runners on second and third, the pitching troubles continued for Wesson as she threw another bad pitch causing Dow to score and Lighton to make the uncontested walk over to third.
Senior McKenzie Phillips walked in the next at bat and stole second with ease, but a fielding error allowed Lighton to plate Appalachian's fifth run of the inning. Sophomore Hayley Grabner continued the attack by singling to left field, but was caught trying to thieve second base to end the inning.
Despite getting two hits out of two of its three leadoff batters in the third, Gardner-Webb was not able to piece anything together to counter ASU's scoring in its half of the inning.
That did not stop the Mountaineers from not scoring anymore runs as the Black and Gold kept its foot on the gas, notching three runs in the fourth and two in the fifth to end the game via the run rule.
The win gave junior Caitlin Wainright (1-2) her first victory of the season. The Greenville, N.C.-native only allowed four hits, three walks and struck out two in the complete-game performance.
Appalachian was led offensively by Lighton and Rappe, who tallied two hits apiece, in the shutout. Rappe also added another steal to her stat line, making her a perfect nine-for-nine on the season.
ASU 11, UNC Wilmington 3
ASU continued its strong offensive onslaught well into the second game against the tournament host.
Boyd notched a leadoff single to left field to begin the initial inning and Rembielak followed up by getting on due to a fielding miscue by UNCW third base Torres. Smith singled to right field in the next at bat, loading the bases full of Mountaineers. Cashion grounded out next, but was able to get a RBI with Boyd crossing home for the game's first run. Runners moved over via a pass ball, allowing Rembielak to score the second Appalachian run. Dow and Lighton went down in order afterward ending the first inning of play.
The Black and Gold added two more runs in its half of the second, despite not recording a hit, to go up 4-0.
Neither team would score in the third act, but ASU tagged three more runs to the scoreboard in its portion of the fourth.
Boyd walked to start the fourth and Rembielak garnered a hit to shortstop to put two runners on for Smith. Smith grounded out to first base, but Cashion came through with her third double of the season, plating Boyd and Rembielak. Cashion came around to score after a Dow single and Lighton fielder's choice.
The Seahawks would get its first and only runs of the game in the fifth frame on two hits and two Mountaineer mistakes.
In the bottom of the sixth with ASU on top 7-3, Rembielak earned a leadoff walk and Smith singled to first base to give Appalachian runners on first and second. Cashion notched her second free pass of the game to load the bases for the Apps. Dow came through with her second hit of the contest to center field, allowing Rembielak to become a Mountaineer run.
After Smith was forced out at home, sophomore Sheridan Phillips, who came in to pinch hit for Grabner, stepped up big with a three-RBI double to close the door on the game for the Seahawks.
Sophomore Frannie Seader picked up the victory after allowing three runs on seven hits, while adding two strikeouts and two walks.
Sophomore Louise Gibson finished up the game for Seader, but did not earn the save.
Smith and Dow led the ASU offense with two hits each, while Cashion and S. Phillips added four RBIs and three RBIs, respectively.
Appalachian returns to action on the diamond on Mar. 4-6, taking in four games at the Lipscomb Tournament in Nashville, Tenn. First pitch for the Mountaineers is on Friday against Eastern Illinois at 1 p.m.
