SAN MARCOS, TEXAS - The Mountaineers rolled into San Marcos, Texas without a conference series loss to their name. After a doubleheader split on Friday, and an off-day on Saturday, game three on Sunday will decide if the same can be said on the trip back to the Mountains.
Appalachian State (26-10, 11-3 SBC) dropped the first game and won the second of the doubleheader on Friday against Texas State (20-17, 9-5 SBC). The Mountaineers were unable to score any runs in game one, losing 2-0 and getting shut out for only the third time this season.
With the game two victory, the Mountaineers won their first game against Texas State for the first time in program history. Appalachian entered the series 0-11 all-time against the Bobcats.
Game 1
Kenzie Longanecker suffered the loss in the circle, bringing her record to 14-2 on the season. The loss is only Longanecker's second this year and sits at the least amount of losses for a pitcher in the Sun Belt. With a 1.90 ERA, she remains at second in the Sun Belt in overall pitching with 81 strikeouts backing her up.
Defense was the theme through three and a half innings as neither team allowed a runner beyond second base until that point. Stemming off a double and an error that put runners in scoring position, a Texas State single to right field knocked the two home.
The final three innings would follow suit of the first three with neither side able to make a dent and ending in the favor of the Bobcats. Through game one,
Megan Walker ended with two hits accompanied by
Sidney Russell,
Alison Durrence and
Ally Walters with one hit each.
Game 2
App State was determined to change the script early in game two.
Keri White put a bunt down the first-base line to get on base and set the tone for the rest of the game. A sac bunt by
Caylie Kifer and a stolen base by White allowed
Haley Stewart to bring home the first run of the game and put the Mountaineers on the board for the first time Friday.
Solid pitching by
Sydney Holland held off the Bobcats and allowed for App State to gain confidence in the batter's box. In the fifth inning,
Ally Walters added to the score with a solo shot to left field and put the App State up 2-0.
In the final outing for Texas State, a bobcat home run threatened the App State lead and brought the game closer to 2-1. Despite the early inning setback, Holland forced the final batters to put the ball in the dirt and relied on her defense to take care of the rest.
Holland picked up the win in the circle moving her record to 9-5 on the season. With five striekouts in game two, Holland improved her ERA to 2.08, good for third in Sun Belt pitching.
"We played two great games against a very good Texas State team," head coach
Shelly Hoerner said. "We pitched well in both games and played some great defense. I'm so proud of this team's continued fight at the plate. This is a huge step up for our program."
Game three of the series will be cancelled due to rain. The Apps will be back in action Wednesday for a doubleheader with UNCG.
