SAN MARCOS, TEXAS – Appalachian State (31-22, 13-13 SBC) is set for their first ever appearance in the Sun Belt Championship on Wednesday. The fifth seeded Mountaineers are scheduled to take on the eighth seeded UL Monroe (11-40, 7-17 SBC) at 1:30 EST.
The winner will advance to the double elimination round of the tournament to face fourth seeded Texas State (28-23, 16-10 SBC) later in the day at 6:30 EST.
APP STATE OFFENSE
The Mountaineers have put together a .243 team batting average this season as they head into the post-season. 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 is hitting with a team-best .346 batting average through 182 at bats this season. With 63 hits on the season, White is fourth in the Sun Belt Conference in total hits bringing along with her 23 RBIs and 85 total bases.
Alison Durrence carries a .621 slugging percentage and 12 home runs so far this year, third in the Sun Belt through the regular season.
Jenny Dodd continues to hold on to a conference and team-best 42 walks this season alongside a .419 on-base percentage.
White is also a perfect 12-12 in stolen bases this season helping the Mountaineers dominate the base path as they are currently 43-53 in stolen bases this year.
APP STATE DEFENSE
The Mountaineers finished the regular season third in conference in pitching with a 2.81 team ERA and 201 strikeouts.
Sydney Holland has seen the most action recently, heading into the postseason with a 2.17 ERA. Holland has a 14-9 record on the year with 69 strikeouts.
All-Sun Belt First Team member
Kenzie Longanecker goes into the weekend with a 14-7 record and 2.39 ERA. She currently sits at fourth in strikeouts in program history with 92 on the season and 306 in her career.
The Mountaineers defense matches their seeding 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 6-9 in program history against ULM through 15 meetings. Earlier in the season, the two faced off in Monroe for the Mountaineers' second conference series.
The Mountaineers swept the Warhawks in the weekend series shutting them out in games one and three and going to extra innings in game two.
In game two,
Mary Pierce Barnes had the only hit of the eighth inning with a single to center field, bringing home
Laura Sales and
Caylie Kifer and winning the game 4-2.
No home runs were hit throughout the series by either side as the Mountaineers went on to win game one 3-0, game two 4-2 and game three 5-0.
SCOUTING THE WARHAWKS
ULM heads into the post season as the eighth and final seed in the tournament.
The Warhawks are coming off a 0-3 loss to one seeded Louisiana. The final two games of the series were cancelled due to weather.
As a team, the Warhawks are batting with a .238 batting average. Sydney McKay is leading the way batting .400 with 64 hits on the season, tied for second in the Sun Belt. Jayden Mount leads the team with five home runs and 10 doubles on the season.
In the circle, Adrianna Chavarria has seen the most action with a 6-14 record and a 5.04 ERA. Chavarria has 49 strikeouts on the year and has given up 78 earned runs.
Murphy Williams is another face that could be seen on Wednesday. Williams has a 5.91 ERA and 1-11 record this season with 28 strikeouts on the year.
