BOONE, N.C.- Appalachian State University softball (11-14, 4-2 SoCon) split with Charlotte (17-14, 3-1 A-10) on a rainy Wednesday at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium, dropping the first game, 10-7, but recovering to win the second by run rule, 9-1.
The 49ers went up 6-0 before the Mountaineers broke into the scoring column in the bottom of the third inning. Charlotte got two in the first and four in the second.
After the Appalachian defense held the 49ers scoreless in the top of the third, senior Katie Boyd tripled off the right center fence for the first base runner of the third frame. Junior Megan Rembielak popped up for the second out of the inning, but sophomore Meghan Smith took a Katy Hackett pitch for a ride over the centerfield fence for her third home run of the season in the next at-bat, moving the score to 6-2. Sophomore Allie Cashion followed up with a double to left center, but senior Hannah Dow grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning.
Charlotte was able to scratch through for four more runs in the top of the fourth, but the Mountaineers put together their biggest inning of the game in the bottom of the fifth.
Senior Sarah Rappe singled through the right side of the 49er defense to begin the fifth. But during Boyd's at-bat, Rappe was caught trying to swipe second base, for the first out of the inning. Boyd ended up walking, but Rembielak reached on a 49er miscue to put Mountaineers on first and second. Smith came through again and singled through the right side to load up the bases full of Apps for Cashion. Cashion then teed off on another Hackett pitch for the first grand slam of her ASU career to close the Charlotte lead to a slim 10-6 margin.
The Mountaineers held the 49ers until ASU put together a rally in final stanza. Cashion began the last inning with a double to left center to get the ASU momentum going. Dow singled through the right side of the field, allowing Cashion to take third. With runners on the corners, junior Lindsay Whitlock lined out to first base, but senior McKenzie Phillips walked to load the bases once again. Sophomore Sheridan Phillips grounded out to first base in the next at-bat, but Cashion was able to cross the plate for a run. That was the only run Appalachian would score as they fell to the 49ers, 10-7.
Sophomore Frannie Seader (1-4) was charged with the loss as Hackett (12-7) picked up her 12th victory of the season.
Cashion finished with three hits and a game- and career-high four RBIs for the second time this season. Rembielak, Smith and Dow also collected multiple hits for ASU.
But the Mountaineers recovered nicely in the second game to get their second run-rule win over an opponent within the last week by defeating the 49ers, 9-1.
Charlotte squeezed a single run through in the top of the first for their only run of the game and then it was all Appalachian from there.
Boyd led off the game with a walk and Rembielak singled through the left side of the field, advancing Boyd to second. Smith then launched her second home run of the doubleheader and fourth of the season to give the Mountaineers a 3-1 lead.
ASU got four more runs in the bottom of the third to extend its leverage to 7-1. Dow earned a leadoff walk and senior Morgan Price singled through the right side, putting Apps on first and second. M. Phillips reached base due to a 49er error for the second time during the contests and S. Phillips singled through the left side to plate Dow. While trying to grab extra bases, Price was thrown out on the play by Charlotte left fielder Briana Gwaltney. Sophomore Hayley Grabner tallied her first double of the season next, allowing S. Phillips and M. Phillips to score. The action forced the 49ers to make a pitching change to bring Kalie Lang to the circle, replacing Katie Watkins. Boyd was walked in the next at-bat, but after a pop out by Rembielak, Smith notched her seventh double of the season, scoring Grabner. But Cashion grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.
S. Phillips collected her second hit of the game to begin the fifth inning of play on a single to the right side of the 49er defense. Grabner struck out swinging for the first out of the inning, but Boyd came through big smashing a pitch over the left field fence and onto Jack Branch Drive to end the game before anticipated heavy rain made its appearance.
With today's games, this marks the sixth straight game that the Mountaineers have hit at least one home run, while it is the seventh multiple home run game for ASU.
Sophomore Louise Gibson (4-3) notched her staff-leading fifth complete game of the season with the victory.
Smith led the Black and Gold offense with three hits, while Price and S. Phillips added two.
Smith also had a team-leading four RBIs.
The Mountaineers return to the diamond this weekend in a pivotal SoCon series against Chattanooga, starting on Saturday (Mar. 26) at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in Chattanooga.
