CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The App State softball team split its opening day, beating Virginia, 1-0 before falling to Charlotte, 9-5. The first game of the day was a pitcher's duel, as
Sydney Holland went all seven to get her first win of the season.
Scoreless through six innings against Virginia, the breakthrough for the Mountaineers came in the top of the seventh. Sophomore
Alison Durrence started the rally, singling to center field. Freshman
Delaney Smith entered the game to pinch run and ultimately scored the game-winner.
Following the single from Durrence, senior
Sidney Russell singled to left field to put runners on first and second.
Baylee Morton came through with a single to the left side. Smith was able to score after the left fielder made a fielding error.
From there, Holland took over and closed out the game for App State's first victory of the season. The senior pitcher ended the game with five strikeouts, allowing only four hits and one walk. Freshman
Emily Parrott and senior
Gabby Buruato added hits, along with Morton, Durrence and Russell.
With the loss, Virginia moves to 1-1 on the year. Molly Grube received the loss in the circle, striking out six and allowing five hits. The Cavaliers also had two errors.
The second game of the day was a higher scoring affair, as Charlotte used three home runs to help earn its first win of the season.
App State started out hot, as Morton hit her first home run of the year in the second inning. The 49ers answered in the second inning, hitting a two-run home run to take the lead. From there, Charlotte would continue to lead the remainder of the game.
The third inning proved to be the downfall for the Mountaineers, giving up four runs after three hits and four errors. The Mountaineers answered in the top of the fourth, with another home run from Morton. Following the homer, Buruato singled through the left side and Kifer doubled to left field, bringing in Buruato for her first RBI of the season.
Charlotte would then hit its second home run of the game in the bottom of the fourth.
Camryn Brazile came on in relief for starting pitcher
Kenzie Longanecker in the bottom of the fifth.
The fifth inning was scoreless between the two teams and then the 49ers scored their final two runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth, with another two-run home run.
The Mountaineers did not go quietly, scoring two more runs to finish the game. Smith started the inning with a pinch-hit single, followed by Durrence reaching base on a walk. Russell then singled to right field to move runners to second and third.
Camryn Jones pinch hit and scored Smith and Durrence after a fielder's choice and a throwing error by the shortstop. The comeback came up short as the final two batters struck out to end the game.
Longanecker received the loss in the circle, giving up seven hits and seven runs, five of which were earned. After coming on in relief, Brazile gave up two hits and two runs. Alison Green received the win in the circle for the 49ers, giving up five hits and striking out three. She allowed three earned runs.
The Mountaineers return to action tomorrow, taking on Virginia at 10 a.m. and Charlotte at 12:30 p.m. to wrap up the Charlotte Invitational.
