Softball Gets Win Over 49ers in Final Day of Charlotte Invitational

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The App State softball team went 1-1 in the final day of the Charlotte Invitational. The Mountaineers fell to Virginia in the first game, 9-7, but would end the day with a 4-1 win over Charlotte.
 
The Mountaineers held the lead through five innings against Virginia, but were unable to hold onto it as the Cavaliers used a five-run six inning to take the win. App State scored seven runs between the first two innings, but could not score in the final five.
 
Virginia took the lead first, scoring in the top of the first inning after two batters were walked home. Following the walks, Taylor Nichols came on in relief for starter Maddie Siemer. Nichols was able to work out of the inning.
 
App State answered in the bottom of the inning, scoring five runs to take the lead. Emily Parrott started the inning with a double and was moved to second after Caylie Kifer was hit by pitch.
 
Alison Durrence came to the plate and singled to centerfield, scoring Parrott. Baylee Morton, after hitting two home runs yesterday, tripled down the third base line to score Kifer and Durrence. Morton scored off a throwing error to second base by the catcher after Mary Pierce Barnes, who reached base on a walk, stole second. Barnes reached third off a single from Taylor Thorp and was able to score on a sacrifice fly from Maegan Calandra.
 
The Mountaineers scored two more in the bottom of the second after yet another home run from Baylee Morton, this time a two-run homer. Kifer reached base on a walk and Morton sent the ball over the left field fence for her seventh RBI of the weekend.
 
Virginia started chipping away at the five run-lead in the fourth, scoring two runs off of two Mountaineer errors. Nichols was replaced by Kenzie Longanecker after two runners reached base. Longanecker threw the remainder of the contest.
 
After a scoreless fifth inning on both sides, the Cavaliers broke the game open, scoring five runs en route to their third win of the weekend. After five hits, a walk and a wild pitch, the Apps found themselves behind by two heading into the seventh inning. App State was unable to score in its final opportunities and fell to 1-2 on the season.
 
Longanecker received the loss in the circle, throwing four innings and giving up five runs. She moves to 0-2 on the year. Aly Rayle received the win in the circle, allowing three runs on three hits with seven strikeouts. The sophomore is now 2-0.
 
App State bounced back in the second game with another solid performance on the mound from Sydney Holland. Holland threw a complete game, allowing only three hits and one run. She struck out eight in her second win of the season.
 
Both the Mountaineers and the 49ers were held scoreless until the sixth inning when App State broke through. Parrott started the rally with a double down the left field line. Kifer reached base on a bunt single to put runners on first and second.
 
After Parrott and Kifer advanced on a steal, Durrence came through with a single through the right side scoring two. Maddux Hughes came on in relief of Charlotte's starting pitcher, Carson Pace. After Hughes walked in a run, Alison Green came on as the third pitcher of the inning. Green would walk in the Mountaineers' fourth run.
 
Charlotte scored its only run in the bottom of the sixth after a single and a triple. Holland would work out of the inning with only one run scored. From there, the Mountaineer defense shut down the 49ers to earn its second win of the season.
 
App State returns to action next weekend at the D9 Citrus Blossom Tournament in Orlando, Fla. from Feb. 14-16.