ORLANDO, FLA. – The App State softball team opened the D9 Citrus Blossom Tournament 2-0, defeating Bethune-Cookman 1-0 and Charleston Southern 4-0. The Mountaineers used solid pitching and clutch hitting to move to 4-2 on the season.
Senior
Sydney Holland threw the complete game shutout against Bethune-Cookman, striking out seven and allowing only three hits and one walk. The right-hander moves to 3-0 on the season.
Taylor Thorp was clutch at the plate, singling to the second baseman for the game-winning RBI in the top of the seventh.
Alison Durrence started the rally, reaching first after she was hit by pitch.
Keri White came in to run for Durrence and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from
Baylee Morton.
After
Sidney Russell walked,
Keri White moved to third and
Mary Pierce Barnes reached first safely on a fielder's choice. Thorp would then single to second base to score the winning run.
With the loss, Bethune-Cookman falls to 1-5 on the season. Destiny Enriquez went all seven for the Wildcats, receiving her third loss. She is now 0-3 on the season after giving up three hits and two walks.
Against the Buccaneers,
Kenzie Longanecker went the distance to earn her first win of the season. The senior threw a one-hitter, striking out seven and allowing one walk.
The Mountaineers scored the first run of the game in the third inning off of clutch hitting from Durrence.
Maegan Calandra started the inning with a single down the left field line and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from
Gabby Buruato. After a single from
Caylie Kifer, Durrence's single scored Calandra.
App State would tack on another in the fourth after an RBI double from
Emily Parrott. Barnes reached base on a fielding error by the first baseman and was moved to second after a sacrifice bunt from Calandra. Barnes reached third on a fielder's choice and was brought home after Parrott's double.
Two more runs were scored in the sixth after another fielding error by the first baseman. Thorp and Barnes were walked to start the inning and Thorp would score after the error as Calandra laid down a bunt. Parrott scored Barnes off a sacrifice fly to center field.
Charleston Southern falls to 0-2 on the year. Alyssa Heinrich received the loss in the circle, giving up all four runs on four hits and four walks.
The Mountaineers play two more tomorrow, taking on Lehigh at 2:30 p.m. and Saint Joseph's at 5 p.m.
