NASHVILLE, Tenn.- Appalachian State University softball (6-11) defeated Eastern Illinois, 3-0, in its morning game, but fell to host-Lipscomb by a score of 3-0 in the afternoon game on Sunday in the rainy Lady Bison Classic at Draper Diamond.
After allowing a leadoff hit and two hits in the first inning for the Mountaineers, junior Caitlin Wainright settled in to pitch a four-hit complete game shutout against Eastern Illinois. The complete game was Wainright's (2-2) third of the season and 13th of her ASU career, while the shutout was the sixth of her career.
Appalachian saved the majority of its offense for the fifth frame, where they scored all three runs off of four hits. Senior Sarah Rappe struck out swinging to begin the inning, but senior Katie Boyd doubled to right center in the next at bat. Junior Megan Rembielak grounded out to third base next, but the groundout allowed Boyd to move over to third base. Sophomore Meghan Smith then doubled for the fourth time this season, bringing around Boyd to plate the first run of the game. Sophomore Allie Cashion continued the hits by lacing a ball through the right side of the field, scoring Smith to make it 2-0, ASU. Senior Hannah Dow made it three straight hits for the Mountaineers as she doubled for the first time this season to right center, allowing Cashion to motor around to score the third run of the inning and forcing EIU to make a pitching change. Junior Michelle Lighton struck out swinging to end the stanza for the Apps, but the three runs was all ASU needed to get the victory.
Boyd, Cashion and Dow all tallied two hits apiece, combining for six of Appalachian's seven hits.
In the afternoon game, the Mountaineers were held to four hits and were not able to get an offensive rhythm going. The Lady Bison were able to notch three runs on seven hits and two errors in its revenge routing of ASU as ASU had defeated Lipscomb, 4-0, at the Georgia State Panther Invitational two weeks ago
Boyd collected a season-high three hits in the effort, while Dow recorded the other hit.
Dow (2-3) took the complete-game loss, while allowed two earned runs, one unearned and a season-high five strikeouts in the effort. The performance was Dow's third complete game of the season and eighth of her Appalachian career.
The Mountaineers are back on the diamond on Mar. 9 at Tennessee Tech, where they will participate in a round robin with Bowling Green and Tennessee Tech at noon and 4 p.m., respectively.
