TROY, Ala. – Appalachian State University softball struggles in two losses to Troy on Saturday. Appalachian fell 9-3 in Game One, while falling in Game Two 9-1 in five innings.
Game One: Troy 9, App State 3
The Mountaineers (8-12, 0-5 Sun Belt) went ahead in the top of the first when Tiffany Taynor singled through the left side to plate Cynthia Gomez for the 1-0 lead. In the bottom half, the Trojans (15-12, 2-3 Sun Belt) tied the game on an RBI single.
Cara Parker gave the Apps a 2-1 lead when she crushed her second home run of the season to left field. The home run for Parker was the 12th of her career, which is good for seventh all-time in program history.
Troy came back with two runs in the bottom half on a two-run RBI single to take a 3-2 lead.
Both teams wouldn't score until the sixth inning when Gomez singled in Pepper Butler from second base to tie the game at 3-3.
The wheels fell off in the bottom half when the Trojans plated six runs to take an insurmountable 9-3 lead, leaving the Mountaineers just three outs to generate at least six runs.
The top two hitters for Troy – Kate Benton and Hannah Day – combined to finish 5-for-7 with five RBI and three runs scored.
Vanessa Cicoatto started for the Apps and pitched 1.2 innings and allowed three runs on four hits before being relieved by Alissa Schoelkopf. In 4.1 innings, Schoelkopf surrendered six runs on four hits and four strikeouts.
Gomez led the Black and Gold at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance, including an RBI and a run scored. The three hits for Gomez tied a career-high and was the third time the senior has done that in her career. Parker went 1-for-3 with a home run, while Heather Josey and Butler finished with two hits each.
Game Two: Troy 9, App State 1 F/5
The Mountaineers once again took a lead early in the top of the first against Troy. Josey grounded into a fielder's choice with Gomez scoring to put App State in front 1-0.
Unfortunately that would be the only run the Apps would score in the game. Following a scoreless first, the Trojans would score runs in four consecutive innings to end the game in the fifth.
In the second inning, Troy took a lead after a run scoring off of an error and then a two-run triple to lead 3-1. The Trojans would go on to score two in the third, one in the fourth and three in the fifth to win 9-3.
Ciocatto started and pitched two innings and allowed three runs (none earned) off three hits. Katherine Johnson pitched 2.2 innings and surrendered six runs (five earned ) off of four hits.
Appalachian returns to action tomorrow for the series finale at 1 p.m. ET.
