CULLOWHEE, N.C.- Appalachian State University softball (14-17, 7-5 SoCon) split its doubleheader against rival Western Carolina (18-24, 3-11 SoCon), dropping the first game, 4-0, but bouncing back to run rule the Catamounts in the second game, 11-0 in six innings.
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Mountaineers started off the first frame with back-to-back singles by senior Katie Boyd and junior Megan Rembielak. Both runners advanced a single base after sophomore Meghan Smith flew out in foul territory to WCU right fielder Amelia Griffin. But sophomore Allie Cashion lined out to center fielder Erin Foster, who made the throw back to second base to double up Rembielak to end the inning.
In the bottom half of the third, Western Carolina's Robyn Burnette doubled down the left field line and was bunted over to second by Griffin. With two outs, Jordan Fulton singled over the top of the glove of Smith, who got the start at third in place of Boyd, plating Burnette for the first run of the game. Sophomore Louise Gibson then walked Haley Pace to put Catamount runners on first and third, but Kelly Braman grounded out to Rembielak at second base to end inning.
At the top of the fourth, Cashion started a two-out rally with a single through the left side. Senior Hannah Dow then singled over Braman's head at third base. Senior McKenzie Phillips worked the count against WCU's Amber Steinhardt and singled back up the middle to load the bases full of Mountaineers. But the rally would be ended by junior Michelle Lighton hitting a hard shot back at Steinhardt, who made a good stop and threw over to first for the final out of the inning.
Appalachian used their defense to contain the Catamounts in the bottom half of the fourth. Morgan Wyatt hit a chopper back to Gibson, who made the play at first for the first out of the inning. Shemekia Scotton walked in the next at bat and Steinhardt grounded out to Smith, but Scotton got caught trying to take extra bases and was thrown out to end the inning.
In the fifth, Foster recorded a two-out double through the left side and a Fulton single put Catamounts on first and third. A Pace single scored Foster to put WCU up 2-0, but Braman grounded out to Boyd at third to end the frame.
Rembielak recorded the first out of the sixth inning after Steinhardt had to stab the ball to make a play on the speedy Rembielak, but Smith reached on a miscue by Braman for the first Mountaineer base runner of the inning. Cashion struck out looking for the second out, but Dow singled back up the middle in the next at bat, putting runners on the corners. M. Phillips ended the inning grounding out to Scotton.
The Catamounts tacked on two more runs and the Mountaineers were not able to counter in its half of the seventh, falling, 4-0.
Gibson (5-5) threw her staff-high sixth complete game of the season in the defeat. She gave up eight hits, allowed four runs, three earned, while striking out two.
ASU got two hits each from Boyd and Dow and one from Rembielak, Cashion and M. Phillips.
In the second game, Western Carolina errors allowed Appalachian State to score all 11 of its runs, not allowing a single earned run to cross the plate.
The Catamounts started off the game allowing Boyd to reach in the leadoff spot off an error by Scotton. The next two Mountaineers got out, but Cashion singled and took second base on an error by Foster, while Boyd went on to tally the first ASU run of the game.
Lighton led off the fifth, reaching on an error by Steinhardt at first. Sophomore Hayley Grabner reached on another Catamount miscue by Burnette and advanced on a throw that tried to get Lighton out at third, but the throw was unsuccessful to put Apps on second and third. Following a foul out by senior Sarah Rappe, Boyd was intentionally walked to load the bases. Rembielak hit into a fielder's choice, forcing Lighton out at home. Smith came through with a big two-out single, plating Grabner, but a throwing error allowed Boyd to score, as well. Cashion then came up to bat and smashed the only home run of either game and her fifth of the season to center field to extend ASU's advantage to 6-0.
With five more Mountaineers crossing home plate in the top of the sixth, Appalachian had no problem holding on, 11-0, for its seventh SoCon victory of the year.
Dow (6-4) pitched the complete, four-hit shutout for the Apps. She struck out a season-high five batters and only walked one en route to her victory.
Smith, Cashion and Dow all collected two hits each, while Cashion tallied a game-high four RBI.
The rubber game of the series takes place at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Catamount Softball Complex.
