As has become a summer tradition, appstatesports.com is counting down Appalachian State University athletics' 30 most memorable games, matches and meets from the 2014-15 academic year. This year's countdown begins on Monday, July 6 and will continue until Tuesday, August 4, the opening day of Appalachian State football's fall camp.
Be sure to check appstatesports.com each day to relive all of the Mountaineers' most lasting memories of an exciting and successful 2014-15.
Softball Tames Panthers in 5-2 Triumph
February 20, 2015
CHARLESTON, S.C. – For the second time this season, Appalachian State University softball knocked off an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponent with a 5-2 win over Pittsburgh on Friday afternoon. The win also gave the previously 10-0 Panthers their first loss of the season.
Entering the 2015 season, Appalachian was 3-23 against the ACC. Friday's win was the second ACC win after the Apps downed the UNC Tar Heels 4-3 last weekend.
The Mountaineers (4-4) pounded out a season-high 11 hits on the day, while Vanessa Ciocatto controlled Pittsburgh hitters for her first win of the season and her first win as a Mountaineer. Alissa Schoelkopf pitched the last two innings and was lights out for her third save.
App State would get on the board first when Pepper Butler singled to the pitcher to score Cynthia Gomez from third. Gomez singled to lead off the inning and advanced all the way to third on a Dani Heichen sac bunt and a passed ball.
After the Panthers tied the game in the bottom half, the Apps went back ahead when Sarah Warnock smoked a double down the first base line and into the right field corner to plate Cara Parker for the 2-1 advantage.
Again, the Panthers would tie the game on an RBI single in the bottom half and even the game at 2-2.
Following a scoreless third, the Mountaineers pushed two more runs across in the fourth. After singles from Haley Stewart and Parker with one out, Caroline Rogers singled up the middle to score Stewart with Parker also coming home on an errant throw home.
With the Mountaineers in cruise control, the 4-2 lead held until App State plated another run in the seventh. Warnock led off the inning with a double and her pinch runner Tiffany Taynor advanced to third on a Gomez groundout.
Ashley Seering would pinch hit for Butler with one out and Taynor on third. With a full count, Seering would drop a single into short right field and extend the Mountaineer lead to 5-2.
Warnock led the team with two hits, while nine other Mountaineer batters recorded one hit each in the victory.
Ciocatto pitched five innings, allowing seven hits and just two runs while also striking out two batters in her first win of the season. Schoelkopf relieved Ciocatto was perfect in two innings. The senior allowed no hits or walks and struck out four, which included striking out the side in the seventh.
The Mountaineers will return to action tomorrow evening at 8 p.m. when they take on Winthrop.
Appalachian State Athletics' Most Memorable Moments of 2014-15
No. 30: Baseball 5, ETSU 4 (May 12, 2015)
No. 29: Softball 14, Georgia State 5 (April 12, 2015)
No. 28: Women's Tennis 5, North Carolina Central 1 (February 22, 2015)
No. 27: Field Hockey 5, Pacific 4 (October 25, 2014)
No. 26: Men's Tennis 7, Georgia Southern 0 (March 17, 2015)
No. 25: Men's Basketball 74, Arkansas State 73 (January 3, 2015)
No. 24: Volleyball 3, Troy 2 (September 21, 2014)
No. 23: Women's Soccer 3, Troy 2 – 2 OT (October 10, 2014)
No. 22: Men's Soccer 1, NJIT 0 (November 13, 2014)
No. 21: Mike Longo Wins SoCon Championship at 141-weight class (March 7, 2015)
No. 20: Football 45, Idaho 28 (November 29, 2014)
No. 19: Softball 5, Pittsburgh 2 (February 20, 2015)
