LYNCHBURG, VA – The Appalachian State Mountaineers (31-22, 13-13 SBC) are set to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (28-24, 11-12 Big Ten) in the Liberty Regional of the National Invitational Softball Championship.
The appearance is the first postseason appearance in program history for the Mountaineers. The two square-off in the first game of the regional at 10 a.m. on Thursday.
The winner will advance to take on Liberty later that day at 4 p.m. while the loser moves to the elimination bracket on Friday.
APP STATE OFFENSE
The Mountaineers ended the season with a .241 team batting average and head into the postseason looking to change their recent luck. Throughout the year, the black and gold have relied on hitting in the moments when needed the most to lift them throughout the year.
From the leadoff spot, All-Sun Belt Second Team member
Keri White finished the season with a team-best .348 batting average through 184 at bats. White ended the season leading the team with 64 hits, good for fourth in the Sun Belt Conference in total hits bringing along with her 23 RBIs and 86 total bases.
Alison Durrence was the heavy hitter throughout the season in only her Freshman year. With a .615 slugging percentage and 12 home runs on the year, Durrence finished third in the Sun Belt in the regular season.
Jenny Dodd held on to a conference and team-best 42 walks this season alongside a .417 on-base percentage.
White was also a perfect 13-13 in stolen bases this season helping the Mountaineers dominate the base path finishing the regular season 44-54 in stolen bases.
APP STATE DEFENSE
The Mountaineers finished the season with a 2.79 team ERA and 203 strikeouts.
Sydney Holland ended the season with the most action in the circle, heading into the postseason with a 2.14 ERA. Holland has a 14-9 record on the year with 69 strikeouts.
All-Sun Belt First Team member
Kenzie Longanecker heads into the NISC with a 14-8 record and 2.40 ERA. She currently sits at fourth in strikeouts in program history with 94 on the season and 308 in her career.
The Mountaineer defense has fought all season long with a .968 fielding percentage.
Caylie Kifer and
Sidney Russell have turned 17 double plays this season as the chemistry between the two has only grown stronger throughout the year.
Baylee Morton has held it down behind the plate as she has caught 11 runners stealing so far this season, tied for third in the Sun Belt.
THE LAST TIME THEY PLAYED
App State is 0-1 all time against Rutgers University. The last and only time the two teams met was back in 2007.
The Mountaineers swung the bat but were unable to keep up and fell to the Scarlet Knights 10-12.
SCOUTING THE SCARLET KNIGHTS
The Knights head into the NISC after a first-round exit in the Big Ten Championship. Rutgers entered the conference tournament as a six seed and took on the 11 seed Purdue, falling 4-3 and ending the season.
They enter the NISC as an at-large pick in the tournament with an RPI of 81.
As a team, the Knights are hitting with a .254 batting average and .433 slugging percentage. Jess Hughes leads the way with a .358 batting average and 59 hits on the year, a team-high for both categories.
Katie Wingert leads the team and is second in the Big Ten with 17 home runs. Anyssa Iliopoulos follows close behind with 12 followed by Hughes with 10.
Wingert also leads the team with a .697 slugging percentage and 106 total bases this season.
In the circle, Corah Price will most likely be the starter on Thursday. With a 2.92 ERA, Price has a 16-10 record on the year accompanied by 113 strikeouts.
Another who is likely to see some action is Whitney Jones. Jones heads into the tournament with a 4.34 ERA and 63 strikeouts with a 11-13 record.
