MONTGOMERY, ALA. – Appalachian State softball took home two wins on Saturday, Feb. 17 against Holy Cross and Alabama State. App State is now 3-5 on the season and 2-2 this weekend in the Black & Gold Tournament hosted by Alabama State.
Game One vs. Holy Cross (W, 5-4)
App State did not give up after being down 4-1 through six innings against Holy Cross.
Callie Kuykendall started and allowed Holy Cross's four runs before
Katie Williford pitched the remainder of the game. Williford gave up two walks and five hits in 28 at bats.
In the first inning,
Keri White singled. Her aggressive base running allowed her to advance to second base on the throw. White stole third base before
Alisha Josey brought her across the plate for the first run of the game with a single to shortstop.
Holy Cross scored all of their runs in the bottom of the first inning to answer back to the Mountaineers. App State scored one run in the third and fourth inning, bringing the score to 3-4. In the third,
Megan Walker singled to center field for an RBI. In the fourth,
Ally Walters and White each had a single.
Sidney Russell advanced Walters to third base. On a first and third play, Walters scored on the throw for the App's third run of the game.
It wasn't until the top of the seventh that App State regained the lead, the first time since the top of the first inning.
Jenny Dodd had a pinch-hit single through the left side. Walker hit another single for an RBI to tie up the game at 4-4.
Baylee Morton came up big to bring home the winning run with a single to center field. The Crusaders came up short in the bottom of the seventh, and the Mountaineers won the game 5-4.
White went 3-3 with a walk against the Crusaders. Walker went 2-4 with 2 RBIs. Two pinch hitters stepped up against Holy Cross –
Jenny Dodd and
Kayla Fredendall, each 1-1.
Game Two vs. Alabama State (W, 6-1)
In App State's second game against Alabama State this weekend, the Mountaineers' offense shut down the Hornets.
Kenzie Longanecker pitched the full seven innings, allowing five hits and one run for Alabama State. Longanecker had four strikeouts.
Keri White started the game off with a bunt for a hit before
Sidney Russell singled to left field. After White and Russell each stole a base,
Jenny Dodd drew a walk to load the bases.
Haley Stewart drove in the first run of the game with a fielder's choice. Before the third out, App State scored another run to bring the score to 2-0 after the top.
The Apps scored two again in the third inning after Russell reached on an error, Dodd singled Stewart singled, and all advanced on a throw. With the bases loaded,
Ally Walters walked to bring in the second run.
Back-to-back walks to start the top of the sixth inning led to
Laura Sales' at bat. Sales advanced to second base on an error by the first baseman while White advanced to third Wheatley scored. Dodd and Stewart each had a walk, Stewart for an RBI. A fly out and two strikeouts ended the inning for the Mountaineers after putting up two more runs.
Dodd was the only Mountaineer to have a multi-hit game, going 2-2 with 2 walks against the Hornets. Stewart accounted for three runs for the Mountaineers with her three RBIs in game two of the day.
