STATESBORO, GA. – The App State softball team secured the series win over Georgia Southern Saturday afternoon, defeating the Eagles 5-2 in a comeback victory. The Mountaineers are now 22-11 on the season and 6-6 in Sun Belt Conference play. The Eagles fall to 10-22, 3-11 in conference play.
App State used a balanced attack to defeat the Eagles, scoring in the fourth, sixth and seventh to take the win in game three. Georgia Southern took the lead in the bottom of the second, stringing together four hits to take the 2-0 lead. From there, the Mountaineer defense would shutout the Eagles to earn their 22
nd win of the season.
Kenzie Longanecker started in the circle for App State, throwing two innings and giving up four hits and two runs.
Sydney Holland came on in the third, finishing out the game to earn the win. She is now 7-4 on the season, giving up four hits and no runs in her five innings of work.
The Mountaineers began their comeback in the top of the fourth, with
Caylie Kifer starting the inning with a single to the left side. After a pop out and a fielder's choice,
Kayt Houston was on first for
Sidney Russell, who doubled to center field. Houston was able to score on an error by the center fielder.
Trailing 2-1, App State came out in the top of the sixth to take the lead.
Keri White doubled to right field to leadoff and was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Kifer.
Baylee Morton was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and third. Houston would then score White after she reached safely on a fielder's choice. Russell came up big again, singling to right center to score Houston to take a 3-2 lead.
Two more insurance runs were scored in the seventh for App State, with Kifer hitting a single to score
Mary Pierce Barnes who reached on a walk. Morton also singled to score White who reached on a walk as well.
Russell ended her day with two hits and an RBI. Morton and Houston added the other two RBIs, while Kifer and White each added two hits apiece. For the Eagles, Mekhia Freeman, Bailee Wilson and Olive Creamer had two hits, as Freeman and Shayla Smith added RBIs. Anna Feil (0-6) received the loss in the circle, giving up four runs on three hits and two walks.
The Mountaineers return to action on Wednesday, hosting East Tennessee State in a midweek doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. Following the non-conference games against ETSU, App State will host Troy in a Sun Belt series beginning on Saturday.
