BOONE, N.C.- Appalachian State University softball (21-19, 12-6 SoCon) used a solid one-hit, complete-game stand by junior Caitlin Wainright and a four home run-performance by the whole squad to defeat Samford (11-33, 7-10 SoCon), 9-0 and 8-4 on Friday afternoon at a foggy Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium in Boone.
With the two wins on Friday, the 12 Southern Conference wins is the most an ASU team has posted since the 2009 season when Appalachian went 14-9.
During the first game, the Mountaineers started off the bottom of the second with junior Michelle Lighton singling down the left field line. Senior Hannah Dow then reached on an error by Samford's Lakan Smith at first. Following a strikeout by sophomore Sheridan Phillips for the first out of the inning, senior McKenzie Phillips singled through the right side to load the bases. Senior Sarah Rappe came up with another single through the right side, allowing Lighton to plate the game's first run. Back-to-back pop ups ended the frame for the ASU.
In the bottom of the third, Appalachian carried over their momentum from the previous inning by leading off with sophomore Allie Cashion doubling to left center following a long pop up by sophomore Meghan Smith. Lighton notched her second hit of the game with a double down the left field line, bringing around Cashion to give ASU a 2-0 lead. Dow flew out for the second out, but S. Phillips took the first pitch of her at bat over the left center fence for the first home run of her Appalachian career and gave the Black and Gold a 5-0 cushion.
Cashion continued her hot hitting in the bottom of the fifth, starting the inning off with a single to left field. Lighton reached on the second Bulldog miscue of the game and Dow laid down a well-executed bunt to load the bases for the second time in the contest. Two Mountaineers flew out in the next at bats, but Rappe doubled to left center to collect two RBIs. With ASU up 7-0, senior Katie Boyd blasted her 42nd home run of her storied career, allowing Appalachian to run rule Samford, 9-0.
In addition to only allowing one hit, Wainright (5-4) struck out four batters for her fifth complete game of the season.
The Mountaineers recorded 12 hits during the contest. Rappe led ASU with three, while Cashion and Lighton added two. Boyd and Rappe raked up three RBI a piece in the effort.
The Apps did not let up heading into the second game. Boyd started off the bottom of the first by lining out to the pitcher, but junior Megan Rembielak singled back up the middle to become the first base runner for ASU. With a 1-1 count, Smith homered deep over the left center fence to give Appalachian an early 2-0 advantage. Cashion doubled to left center and Lighton sacrificed her over to third. But senior Morgan Price lined out to right field to end the inning.
Samford broke through with its first run of either game in the top of the second, but the Mountaineers added three in the bottom of the third to go ahead, 5-1.
Following a pop up that looked like it would get lost in the fog by Boyd, Rembielak laid down a bunt to get on. Smith grounded out, but a double to left field by Cashion brought Rembielak in for a run. Lighton then teed off on a ball to right center and gave Appalachian its second homer of the game. Price followed up with a shot through the left side, but S. Phillips grounded out sharply to second base to end the stanza.
In the fifth, Smith hit a deep fly ball in foul territory that was recorded for the first out, but Cashion and Lighton hit back-to-back solo home runs to center field and left field to extend ASU's lead to 7-1.
The Mountaineers added one more in the sixth after Boyd tripled for the fourth time in her career to right field and would later score on a wild pitch during Rembielak's at bat, giving ASU a 8-1 lead.
But the Bulldogs did not go down quietly. With two outs in the top of the seventh, Brianna Chambers reached on an error by Rembielak at second base. With a 2-2 count, Robyn Harmon homered over the right field fence. Amanda Jordan followed her teammate's lead and homered over right field fence, as well during her 3-1 hitter's count. Alex Adams drew a walk and ASU went to the bullpen, bringing in Wainright to close out the game. She got L. Smith to ground out to M. Phillips at shortstop to end the rally and the game, preserving the Mountaineers' 8-4 victory.
The four bombs collected for Appalachian is the second-most hit in a single game in ASU history, with the record being five against Elon in 2007. With her two homers in the game, Lighton becomes the only active Mountaineer to hit two in a single game since Boyd did so during the 2008 and 2009 campaigns. And she also joins Boyd, Keri Blackwelder and Kasey Motsinger as the only Apps that have hit two in a single game.
With the 13 hits in the second game, it is the 11th time this season that the Black and Gold offense has tallied double-digit hits in a game and the second time they have done it in back-to-back games. Appalachian previously recorded double-digit hits in a row in the series finale against Elon and in both games with Charlotte.
Cashion and Rembielak paced ASU with three hits and Price and Lighton chipped in two. Lighton was the Mountaineers' top RBI producer with three.
Dow (10-4) collected every out with the exception of one to get her career-high 10th win. Dow walked two and struck out two in the outing.
The Mountaineers will go for the sweep tomorrow, as well as celebrate Senior Day at 1 p.m. at Sywassink/Lloyd. Check GoASU.com for live stats and live video from tomorrow's game.
