MONROE, LA. - Extra innings were needed in game two between the Appalachian State Mountaineers (16-7, 5-0 SBC) and the ULM Warhawks (4-21, 1-4 SBC). App State defeated ULM 4-2 in 8 innings on Saturday.
Keri White started the Mountaineers off in the third inning with a single to center field bringing home
Ally Walters. After stolen bases by
Gabby Buruato and
Haley Stewart,
Sidney Russell put the ball in play to score Buruato for the second run of the game.
For nearly the remainder of the game, the ULM defense stepped up and didn't allow the Mountaineers past second base.
With two outs left in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Warhawks struck a single to right field, scoring two, to tie the game 2-2.
In the top of the eighth inning, after a handful of walks and a stolen base by
Laura Sales,
Mary Pierce Barnes singled to center, scoring Sales and
Caylie Kifer as the winning runs.
"Every game in the Sun Belt is a grind and we grinded this one out," head coach
Shelly Hoerner said. "This was a great team win; our team believes in one another and plays for each other. We don't give up and we found a way. I love our mentality as a team and their fight."
Sydney Holland picked up the win in the circle marking her record as now 6-4. Holland's five strikeouts helped hold ULM to only two runs and tallied for more than ULM's two pitchers combined.
The win puts the Mountaineers at 5-0 in the Sun Belt, continuing the best start in program history. Each conference win has been on the road so far this season. App State's first home conference game is on March 29, against South Alabama.
App State will look to complete the sweep against ULM on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. EST.
