BOONE, N.C.- Appalachian State University softball (23-21, 14-6 SoCon) outlasted Furman (16-32, 8-14 SoCon) and defeated the Paladins, 3-1 in the first of three games at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium on Sunday afternoon in front of over 200 fans.
With the win, the Mountaineers tie the mark for most Southern Conference wins in a single season at 14. The tally was previously set in 2009. It is also the most SoCon wins notched in a first season by a first-year head coach in ASU history.
Appalachian scored all the runs it needed to secure the win in the first inning of the game. Senior Katie Boyd led off the game with a walk on four straight pitches. Junior Megan Rembielak laid down a bunt down the third base line and beat out the throw for a single. Sophomore Meghan Smith dropped a hit directly on the right field line, allowing Boyd to give ASU a 1-0 lead. In the first pitch of sophomore Allie Cashion's at bat, Smith scooted down to second base for her fifth stolen base of the season. Cashion looked at three more balls and took first base. Junior Michelle Lighton flew out to left field, bringing in Rembielak and tacking on one more run to give the Mountaineers a 2-0 lead. Senior Hannah Dow laced a shot into left field, plating Smith and allowing her to score the last run ASU needed to secure the victory.
Boyd walked in her second at bat in the second inning, but was thrown out at home on a Smith single down the left field line.
Furman avoided the shutout by scoring one run in the top of the fifth. Emily Boyer lead off the inning with a single back up the middle and was sacrificed over to second by Katie Michaels. Stephanie Field singled through the left side, bringing in Boyer and moved over to second base on the throw that attempted to get Boyer out at the plate. Field advanced to third on a wild pitch, but Jessie Homesley grounded out to third base to end the threat.
The Paladins threatened again in the top of the sixth with Morgan Hughey doubling to right field to begin the inning. Hannah Pace reached on a fielding error by Boyd after Stephanie Spain struck out looking, but Alex Bimonte lined out into a double play to end the inning.
Neither team would allow a baserunner from that point on and ASU held on for the 3-1 victory.
Junior Caitlin Wainright (6-5) picked up her sixth win of the season in her team-leading seventh complete game. Wainright struck out six and allowed one earned run off seven hits.
Kayla Suskauer was charged with the loss and moved to 11-15 on the season.
Smith led ASU with 11th-two hit performance of the season, while Rembielak and Dow added one.
The Mountaineers and Paladins face each other tomorrow in a doubleheader at Sywassink/Lloyd beginning at 11 a.m. Visit GoASU.com for live stats and video of the games.
