BOONE, N.C.- Appalachian State University softball (13-16, 6-4 SoCon) picked up their second Southern Conference sweep of the season by winning both games of its doubleheader against College of Charleston (21-15, 3-8 SoCon), 7-1 and 6-1, at Sywassink/Lloyd Stadium on Sunday (Apr. 3).
Junior Megan Rembielak got the Mountaineers' first hit of the game in the bottom of the first on a bunt single and stole second during sophomore Meghan Smith's at-bat. Smith grounded out for the second out of the inning, but sophomore Allie Cashion hit a long single to left field to plate Rembielak for the first run of the game. Senior Hannah Dow singled through the right side, moving Cashion to third, but Cashion would score on the overthrow by Katie Pesature. Senior McKenzie Phillips flew out to left field to end the frame.
With the Apps up 2-0, heading into the bottom of the fourth, M. Phillips picked up her second double of the season to left field to start the inning. Sophomore Sheridan Phillips flew out to right field, but M. Phillips advanced one base on the fly ball. Junior Michelle Lighton kept the two baggers coming as she tallied her third double of the season, allowing M. Phillips to score. Senior Sarah Rappe got on via a bunt single and stole second for the 10th time to become the first Mountaineer to tally double-digit stolen bases this season. Then Katie Boyd came up to the plate and crushed a Alexa Datko pitch to center field for the sixth time this season and 40th time of her career, giving ASU a 6-0 lead and forcing College of Charleston to make a pitching change, bringing in Jen Rosene for Datko. Rosene was able to get Rembielak to ground out to second base, but Smith singled through the left side in the next at-bat. Cashion would ground out to end the inning.
Katie Nutaitis started off the top of the fifth grounding out to shortstop, but Hillary Stringer put up the Cougars' only run of the game as she homered to center field off sophomore starter Louise Gibson.
Appalachian got one more run in the bottom of the sixth to complete the final score of 7-1. Boyd singled to shortstop to start the inning and stole second. Rembielak tallied her second hit of the contest in the next at-bat, moving Boyd over to third, but Boyd would score off another Cougar miscue. Smith lined out to center field, but Rembielak stole second during the at-bat. Cashion and Dow went down in order to end the inning.
Junior Caitlin Wainright took over in the circle for Gibson for the final stanza, only allowing one hit, one walk and striking out one to finalize the 7-1 victory.
ASU was led by Boyd, Rembielak and Dow, who scattered two hits apiece. Boyd also contributed three RBIs.
Gibson (5-4) picked up the win en route to giving up five hits, one earned run, three walks and two strikeouts.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Mountaineers waited until the second inning to put up its first run of the contest. Cashion singled to right center to start the inning and following a Dow strikeout, M. Phillips followed up with a single to left field. Lighton hit a shot down the right field line, bringing home Cashion and advancing M. Phillips to third. Sophomore Hayley Grabner grounded out and Rappe went down swinging to end the frame.
Boyd lined out to begin the third, but Rembielak reached on a throwing error by Stephanie Saylors in the next at-bat. Smith then stepped up the plate and homered for the fifth time this season to give the Apps a 3-0 cushion.
In the top of the fourth, Pesature reached on an error by M. Phillips and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Kelsey Hodgson singled back up the middle and moved around to second as she watched Pesature get thrown out at home on a perfect throw by Rappe from center field. Kristi Woodall doubled in the next Cougar at-bat to right center, allowing Hodgson to plate the only run of the game for CofC.
ASU added three more runs in its half of the fifth to seal the win. Rappe reached on an error by Stringer and stole second. Boyd grounded out to move Rappe over to third and she scored on the single to shortstop by Rembielak. Smith would single through the left side, giving Appalachian runners on first and second. Dow came through and singled through to right center following a hard lineout to shortstop by Cashion, to score Smith and Rembielak. This ended Saylors' day in the circle as Kylie Day relieved her.
Dow (5-4) picked up the 6-1 win, giving up five hits and one run and striking out five.
Smith led Appalachian offensively with two hits and two RBI.
The Mountaineers return to play April 9-10, taking on Western Carolina in Cullowhee at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday and at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
