ELON, N.C. — Appalachian State University softball dominated the rubber match of its conference series at Elon with an 11-1 run rule victory on Sunday afternoon. The win for Appalachian was its fourth in five games.
The Mountaineers (17-23, 5-9 SoCon) got started early and often. Dani Heichen lead off the game with a single and advanced to second base on an error. Heichen finished the game 3-for-4 and hit 9-for-12 in the series. Following a groundout, Sarah Warnock would be hit by the pitch and in the midst of stealing second base the ball would go into center field and Heichen would score.
After a walk to Ashley Seering yet another throw ended up in center field on a steal attempt. Warnock would score on the error and the Mountaineers would lead 2-0 after one.
Ashley Best led off the second with a walk. What happened next was singles from Kristen Terry and Heichen back-to-back to load the bases. Cynthia Gomez grounded into a fielder's choice with the throw coming home. In an odd play where the umpire ruled Carey Million's foot came off of home plate, Best would score the third run.
Warnock followed up with a two-run double that scored both Terry and Heichen. After a Seering single, Cara Parker hit a sac fly that scored Gomez. The Phoenix (21-20-1, 4-11 SoCon) would tally their lone run in the second when Lauren Oldham doubled followed later by an Ali Ford double to plate Oldham.
For the third consecutive inning, the Mountaineers would plate runs in an inning. In the third, Best would again lead off with a walk. Terry and Heichen would single to load the bases. Caroline Reid came in defensively the previous half inning and would smoke a two-run double to right field to extend the Black and Gold lead to 8-0.
The Apps would wait until the sixth inning to put the game out of reach for good. Warnock and Seering would hit back-to-back doubles to give App State a 9-1 lead. With Seering on second base, Parker blistered a pitch into someone's backyard well out of Hunt Softball field to give the Mountaineers a commanding 11-1 advantage.
Alissa Schoelkopf started in the circle and was the pitcher of record earning her fourth win of the season. Schoelkopf pitched 2.1 innings giving up five hits and allowing just the one run. The junior pitcher also tallied three strikeouts and puts her two shy of grabbing sole possession of fifth all-time in program history. Schoelkopf has 235 career punch outs.
In relief, Shivaun Landeros was lights out, not allowing a single hit in 3.2 innings and striking out four batters in the process.
App State will return to action on Tuesday when it hosts Campbell for a doubleheader at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium. The twin bill is slated to start with a first pitch at 4 p.m.
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