BOONE, N.C.- Appalachian State University softball (9-13, 3-2 SoCon) picked up two, key Southern Conference games from Elon (13-9, 2-3 SoCon), 11-5 and 4-3 at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium on a sunny afternoon in Boone.
ASU was making their first appearance at home after a grueling 20-game roadtrip and they did not disappoint the 100-plus fans in attendance.
In the first game between the two squads, the Mountaineers allowed the Phoenix to put up the game's first two runs in the top of the second inning after Danielle Lafferty doubled to centerfield and an throwing error by junior Caitlin Wainright brought home Lafferty and Kaitlyn Piazzolla.
The Apps answered in the bottom half of the frame, though. Senior Hannah Dow got things going with a single right back up the middle and junior Michelle Lighton grounded out, allowing Dow to move over to second base. Senior McKenzie Phillips picked up a fielder's choice in the next at-bat for the Mountaineers, but a throwing error plated Dow, moving the score to 2-1.
In the top of the third, Elon got two more runs after Caitlin McGowan got ahold of a Wainright pitch and put it over the left center fence, increasing Elon's lead to 4-1.
The Mountaineers chipped away at the lead in the bottom of the inning, picking up one more run, cutting the deficit down to 4-2.
From that point on, it was all Appalachian. In ASU's half of the fourth and sixth, the Black and Gold offense combined to tally nine runs.
The Mountaineer charge was led by sophomore Allie Cashion, who nailed a three-run shot over the left field line fence. It looked like it was going to curve foul, but Cashion got enough of it to keep the pitch fair.
Junior Megan Rembielak and sophomore Meghan Smith paced ASU with three hits a piece, while senior Katie Boyd had two. Cashion finished with a career-high and team-leading four RBIs.
On the rubber, Dow came in relief of Wainright and picked up her third win of the season, moving her overall record to 3-3. Three-time SoCon Pitcher of the Week Lauren Taylor was charged with the loss, moving her record to 8-4.
In the second game, the Mountaineers did all the damage needed to hold on the victory in the first and third frames.
In the ASU half of the first inning, Boyd only needed to see one pitch from Elon's Erin O'Shea and she sent it sailing over the centerfield fence for her second home run of the season, giving Appalachian a 1-0 lead.
Heading into the third inning, Boyd walked to start off and Rembielak put down a bunt single, moving Boyd to put runners on first and second. Smith crushed a pitch to right field, but it stayed in the stadium, allowing both runners to tag up. And as she did in the first game, Cashion came up in the next Mountaineer at-bat and homered over the center field fence, giving ASU a 4-0 advantage.
But Elon responded in its half of the fifth inning, putting up three runs on five hits, leaving two on base.
Appalachian held on to the lead to allow Dow (4-3) to notch her second victory of the day, while Wainright garnered the first Mountaineer save of the season.
Cashion once again lead ASU with three RBIs, while Boyd, Rembielak, Smith and Cashion scattered four hits.
The Mountaineers return to the diamond tomorrow at 1 p.m. for the series finale.
