LYNCHBURG, VA - Appalachian State (31-24) fell in game one of the NISC Liberty Regional to Rutgers (29-24). The two sides were scoreless for five and a half innings until Rutgers scored two. The Mountaineers battled but were unable to rally for a win, falling 1-2.
App State moves to the elimination bracket of the Liberty Regional. The winner of George Washington and Marshall will advance to play Kent State. The loser of that matchup will then face the Mountaineers and fight to avoid elimination from the NISC.
Thursday's game marked the first postseason appearance for Appalachian in program history. The team has put together their second 30-win season in App State history alongside their first birth in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
Sydney Holland suffered the loss in the circle. She ended the day with two strikeouts and three walks and allowed seven hits and two runs. Holland pitched five scoreless innings until the Scarlet Knights managed two runs.
Maddie Siemer pitched in relief for the remainder of the sixth inning.
Rutgers brought around the first run of the game in the sixth inning with a solo home run to left field.
The Mountaineers managed to get one out but the Scarlet Knights kept swinging. After a double and single to put runners on first and third, Rutgers managed another single to add to the lead late in the game.
Siemer pitched in relief from then on and sent the Mountineers to a rally inning in the top of the seventh.
With two outs in the seventh,
Laura Sales get on base with a single up the middle. Following her lead,
Baylee Morton doubled to left center scoring Sales and putting herself in scoring position.
But that would be it for the Mountaineers as they were unable to bring her home, falling 2-1.
The Mountaineers are back in action on Friday in the first game of the elimination bracket. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m.
