MONROE, LA. - Appalachian State (17-7, 6-0 SBC) completed another Sun Belt series sweep with a 5-0 win against ULM (4-22, 1-5 SBC) on Sunday.
With the win, App State maintains their undefeated conference record and are now tied for first with nationally ranked No. 10 Louisiana. This continues the best start in school history with back-to-back Sun Belt series sweeps for the first time ever.
With her tenth win,
Kenzie Longanecker moves up in the school rankings in numerous categories. She is now tied for eighth all time in school history for most wins in a single season, tied for third all time in career wins with 27, and fifth all time in career strikeouts with 277. She also moved up to fourth in individual pitching in the Sun Belt with an ERA of 2.25 right behind teammate
Sydney Holland with an ERA of 1.86.
The Mountaineers got swinging in the third inning when
Keri White doubled to left center bringing in
Baylee Morton. After some impressive base running and
Caylie Kifer stealing second,
Haley Stewart singled to right center bringing home both Kifer and White as well as forcing a pitching change for the Warhawks.
App State would continue in the fourth and fifth innings as two more runs scored and a second pitching change was needed for ULM.
Longanecker conducted business as usual for all seven innings, picking up her tenth win in the circle and maintaining her spotless record of 10-0. She allowed only four hits with seven strikeouts and one walk.
Along with Longanecker's pitching, the Mountaineer defense completed their second shutout against ULM this series and sixth total this season.
"We played some really good defense behind a great game by Kenzie in the circle," head coach
Shelly Hoerner said. "I thought we were patient at the plate and it paid off. We capitalized on walks and then came through with timely hitting. We are competing every pitch and I love that about this team."
The Mountaineers will return home to take on non-conference opponent East Tennessee State on March 25 at 5 p.m.
