BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Appalachian State softball split with Gardner-Webb on Wednesday, April 25. App State took the first game in a 6-1 win and dropped the second game 7-9 after tying it up in the fourth inning at 4-4.
Game One (W, 6-1)
The Mountaineers put up two runs in each of the first two innings of game one and finished with a two-run seventh to produce a 6-1 win. In the top of the first, the Apps scored early with a walk from
Keri White and a home run from
Jenny Dodd to put up two.
In the second,
Megan Walker singled to third base to lead off. Walker advanced on the next play before
Avery Wheatley singled to the shortstop to put another Mountaineer on base. White earned first base on the fielder's choice with Walker as the out at home plate. The Apps scored their second run on a first and third play when White stole second base and Wheatley scored on the throw down.
Heather Josey reached on an error at third base to score White for App State's fourth run.
Alisha Josey singled up the middle, but Dodd was out at the plate for the final out of the inning.
Gardner-Webb scored their only run in the bottom of the fourth inning off of three hits. The Mountaineers escaped the inning after bases were loaded with two outs. White made the final out on a grounder to third base.
App State manufactured two more runs in the top of the seventh inning. After Dodd drew a walk, H. Josey sent a bomb over the left field fence for her fourth homer of the season.
Walker and A. Josey each went 2-3 in game one. H. Josey went 2-4 and Dodd went 1-2 with a home run and two walks. The Apps only struck out once in the first game against Gardner-Webb's ace, Ashley Wark.
Kenzie Longanecker threw the full seven innings with six strikeouts and three walks for her seventh win of the season.
Game Two (L, 7-9)
The second game began in favor of the Bulldogs after a four-run second inning on four hits and three defensive errors from the Mountaineers. The Apps started chipping away and scored a run in the top of the third on a two-out rally. Wheatley singled to the shortstop before White drew a walk. On Dodd's single, Wheatley scored for the RBI.
App State tied it up at 4-4 in the top of the fifth inning. Walters drew a walk to lead off for the Mountaineers. After a single from Wheatley and a sacrifice bunt by White, two Mountaineers advanced into scoring position. Dodd brought one home on a groundout to the shortstop. On the throw home, the first baseman overthrew the catcher, allowing Wheatley to score. H. Josey kept the momentum going with a single to right centerfield. On A. Josey's second double of the game, she scored H. Josey to tie up the score.
The Bulldogs regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth with five runs on five hits and one error. App State attempted their second comeback but fell short despite scoring two runs in the top of the sixth and one in the top of the seventh.
A. Josey went 3-4 with two doubles in game two. Wheatley went 2-4 while five other Mountaineers had a hit apiece.
Callie Kuykendall started in the circle and pitched 4.1 innings, providing only two earned runs of the eight scored by the Bulldogs while she was in the circle. Kuykendall only walked one batter and struck out two.
Katie Williford came in to relieve Kuykendall to pitch the final 1.2 innings. She gave up only one unearned run and struck out one batter while walking none. Kuykendall picked up the loss to bring her record to 3-7.
The Apps continue Sun Belt play this weekend to round out a ten-game road stretch at Georgia Southern on April 28-29.
