GREENSBORO, N.C. – Appalachian State softball split two games today with a win against Seton Hall and a loss against Virginia on Saturday, Feb. 24. App State won 4-0 in a complete game shutout by
Annaleise Kennedy against the Pirates to start the day followed by a 2-1 loss in which Longanecker threw a season-high eight strikeouts and
Alisha Josey hit her second home run.
App State vs. Seton Hall (W, 4 – 0)
The Mountaineers scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Mountaineers scored first with one out and two runners in scoring position.
Keri White drew a walk, and
Sidney Russell singled up the middle to put runners on base.
Haley Stewart moved them into scoring position on a groundout to shortstop.
Alisha Josey pushed a bunt past the infielders in a hole on the right side of the infield to score
Keri White from third base.
The Mountaineer offense put up two more runs in the bottom of the first after
Baylee Morton drew a walk to load the bases and
Heather Josey hit a two-run single up the middle.
White powered a ball to the warning track to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning and advances to third base on a fielding error by the centerfielder. With two outs, White scores on an error by the catcher throwing back to the pitcher for the Mountaineers' fourth run.
White, Russell and H. Josey each had two hits apiece, contributing six of the Mountaineers' nine hits. A. Josey,
Ally Walters and
Megan Walker each had one hit. The Mountaineers racked up five walks with only one strikeout against the Pirates.
Kennedy was the winning pitcher allowing only two hits and five walks with three strikeouts in a complete game shutout. She is now 1-0 this season.
App State vs. Virginia (L, 2-1)
Longanecker started strong in the circle for the Mountaineers in the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back strikeouts. Longanecker and the defense held the Cavaliers with two three-up-three-down innings to start the game.
A. Josey blasted her second home run of the season over the left field fence in the top of the seventh to cut the Cavaliers' lead in half, 2-1. The Mountaineers were unable to score again, and the Cavaliers won the game in six and a half innings.
Among App State hitters, A. Josey stood out, going 3-4 with a home run. Russell, White, Walker and
Avery Wheatley each had a hit apiece. Stewart had the only two walks of the game for the Mountaineers.
Longanecker had eight strikeouts against Virginia, the most she has had in a single game so far this season. She also allowed only two walks. Between Kennedy and Longanecker, the pitching staff only allowed seven walks and two runs today.
