WILMINGTON, N.C.  – Appalachian State University softball came away with their third-straight victory over the University of Maryland, Baltimore County as they trounced the Retrievers 10-3 to wrap up action in Wilmington, N.C. at the Hampton Inn University Area Seahawk Softball Classic.

“I was really proud of our pitching staff for bouncing back after Saturday,” said head coach Janice Savage. “We just have to continue to grow and be more consistent offensively, defensively and in the mound. We are really up and down and we need to find that consistent day for us.”

In the third-place Sunday showdown, Appalachian State's (7-7) batters were on fire registering 12 hits with three Mountaineers leading the offensive charge smacking out at least two including Sidney Russell (3-for-4), Natalie Orcutt (2-for-4) and Haley Stewart (2-for-4). Orcutt pounded out a career-high two triples, and Stewart crashed out her sixth home run of her career.

In the circle, Annaleise Kennedy (1-1) and Kenzie Longanecker shut out UMBC for five innings, allowed only three runs (two earned), struck out six Retrievers with three apiece and did not walk a single batter.

Game Rundown: App State 10, UMBC 3

App State filled-up the scoreboard early exploding to a 4-0 lead at the bottom of the first. On the opening at-bat, Orcutt smashed her first-ever triple over the right fielder's glove and she was followed by Ally Walters who reached on an error. With two runners on base, Russell was determined to bring them home and crashed a single to left field that scored Orcutt and Walters. Then after Taylor Rivenburgh grounded out at first, Stewart cleaned-up the bases bombing her first home run of the season over dead center for a two-run RBI.

In the third, the Retrievers broke through and cut Appalachian's lead to two after a two-run double, but the Mountaineers extended their advantage to 7-2 in the bottom half tacking on three more. Russell led the inning with a double down the left field line that set the stage for Rivenburgh to bat her in after blasting a single straight up the middle. Right after that, Maddy Bloom pinch ran for Rivenburgh and scored thanks to a UMBC error. Closing out App State's scoring-run was Cara Parker who hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home Stewart who reached on a single.

After the Mountaineers scored two more runs in the fourth, UMBC attempted to get back in the game after knocking in a RBI, but the Apps pulled away with the victory reeling in one more run at the bottom of the sixth to neutralized the Retrievers 10-3.

Up Next

Appalachian will compete in the Fairfield Inn and Suites Camel Stampede March 3-4 and will face off against Norfolk State, Rider and Campbell.