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Box Score 2 GREENSBORO, N.C. – Appalachian State softball barely dropped a pair to the UNCG Spartans in back-to-back walk off losses.
The Apps showed a strong display of defense in today's doubleheader with just one error committed on the day.
Haley Stewart was a stronghold at first base with two snags for putouts to get the Mountaineers out of two innings. Stewart also grabbed a line drive on a diving play to keep the Spartans reaching base at an opportune time.
The Apps also put up big hits against the Spartans, including four home runs – one each from
Jenny Dodd,
Baylee Morton,
Heather Josey and
Ally Walters.
Avery Wheatley, Dodd and H. Josey each had hits in both games.
Game One (L, 3-4)
Kenzie Longanecker pitched a tremendous game in the circle for App State. She started the game with two strikeouts in the first inning and prevented the Spartans from reaching base. In seven innings, Longanecker had six strikeouts and kept UNCG to five hits, two of which came in the bottom of the seventh.
Dodd smashed her eighth home run of the season over the right field fence in the top of the fourth. In the same inning, Morton launched another home run in the opposite direction over the left field fence to put the Mountaineers up 2-0. Morton now has four home runs in her freshman season.
The Spartans put up one run in the bottom of the fourth to answer the Mountaineers. One double and a single up the middle allowed the run across the plate.
With bases loaded,
Heather Josey brought Sales home for the Mountaineers' third run of the game with a single to centerfield in the fifth inning.
Megan Walker reached back on a throwing error in the top of the sixth. With one out,
Avery Wheatley laid down a bunt to the third baseman and beat out the throw for a single while advancing Walker to 3B. Wheatley stole second to try to give Walker an opportunity to score, but the second baseman threw Walker out advancing home after the catcher threw down to second base.
Longanecker stayed tough in the circle in the bottom of the sixth inning with a Spartan on first and third base. She struck out the first batter of the inning and the last to hang a zero for UNCG.
The Spartans caught up in the bottom of the seventh inning after two Spartans reached base on walks. After a two-RBI triple down the right field line, UNCG singled up the middle to score the winning run for a walk-off win.
Game Two (L, 3-4, 8 innings)
Callie Kuykendall presented a standout performance starting in the circle of game two for the Mountaineers. She held UNCG to four runs on seven hits, relying on her defense with 14 groundouts. Kuykendall struck out two batters and walked only two batters.
The Apps had two hits until the sixth inning when Dodd singled to left field and H. Josey followed with her third home run of the season. Her two-RBI homer tied up the score at 2-2. The Spartans scored one in the bottom of the same inning to regain the lead, 3-2, on a single up the middle.
Walters blasted her second home run of the season to tie up the score for the second time in the game at 3-3 in the top of the seventh. UNCG could not produce in the bottom of the seventh like game one forcing extra innings.
In the eighth inning, the last out from the previous inning was placed on second base for both teams. The Apps could not manufacture a run in the top of the eighth, but UNCG was able to score the winning run on a wild pitch to win back-to-back walk-off games.
The Mountaineers continue Sun Belt play this weekend for a series in Mobile, Ala., against South Alabama April 21-22.
