Box Score LAFAYETTE, LA. – Appalachian State softball heads home after a series finale loss against No. 20 Louisiana on Sunday, March 18. The Apps are now 12-14 overall and 2-4 in the Sun Belt.
The Mountaineers threw a combined effort in the circle from
Kenzie Longanecker,
Katie Williford and
Annaleise Kennedy, allowing eight total hits from the Ragin' Cajuns. The pitching staff walked four total batters and struck out two.
Jenny Dodd and
Sidney Russell produced the two hits for the Mountaineers.
In the top of the second inning,
Jenny Dodd and
Sidney Russell produced back-to-back singles to touch base.
Baylee Morton grounded up the middle into a double play for the Ragin' Cajuns but not before Dodd advanced to third base. The Mountaineers strand Dodd at third base going into the bottom of the inning.
The Apps' showed off their defensive skills in the bottom of the second. A solo home run from the Ragin' Cajuns allowed a run to score, but
Kenzie Longanecker struck out the next batter to halt the offense.
Keri White prevented Louisiana from advancing into scoring position by throwing out the lead runner at second base after a bunt from the batter. Morton caught a short pop up in the air behind the plate for the final out.
In the bottom of the third inning, Morton fires a throw down to
Avery Wheatley at second base to catch the runner and empty the bases. Louisiana still managed to score in the third after a single down the right field line and a double to the wall for an RBI. A second run scored on an error by White at third base. On a single to left field, A. Josey threw out the runner trying to score at home to get out of the inning.
The Mountaineers started reaching bases in the top of fourth inning. On two outs, Dodd reached on an error by the second baseman. Russell got on base after being hit by a pitch to bring Morton to the plate. She blasted one deep to center field, but Louisiana robbed her of a hit and left two on base.
Katie Williford entered the circle for the Mountaineers in the fourth inning. Louisiana scored one early after a single up the middle. The runner advanced to second base on a passed ball. The batter drew White in for a bunt while the runner stole third base. On the overthrow from Morton to Wheatley at third base, Louisiana scored their fifth run of the game, bringing the score to 5-0. Louisiana put up two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-RBI homer.
The sixth inning allowed White to reach on a throwing error and Dodd to draw a walk, but the Mountaineer offense was unable to bring a run across the plate.
The Ragin' Cajuns put up either one or two runs in each inning of the first five innings, but the Mountaineers broke the scoring streak in the sixth.
