BOONE, N.C. – The App State softball team hosts Troy this weekend in another Sun Belt Conference match up. The Trojans enter the weekend second in the conference with a 13-3 mark in Sun Belt play and a 30-10 overall record. The Mountaineers are currently fifth in the league at 6-6, with a 24-11 overall record.
Fan Information
North Carolina Executive Order No. 195, which went into effect Friday, Feb. 26, permits up to 30 percent capacity for outdoor athletic venues and up to 15 percent for indoor athletic venues. Due to space limitations and required social distancing in the stands at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium, only family members of student-athletes, coaches and staff (56 total) can attend games at this time. No walk-up guests will be admitted.
Gates will open one hour prior to first pitch for those on the pass list. Parking can be found at the Stadium Deck, Champions Lot and Top of the Rock. No concessions will be available.
At all App State venues, six feet of social distancing between seating pods is required, and face coverings are required for all guests and game day staff. All fans must remain at least 15 feet from the dugouts and bullpen areas.
About the Mountaineers
App State most recently earned two non-conference wins Tuesday afternoon, defeating East Tennessee State 4-3 and 8-0 (6 innings). A walk-off single from
Mary Pierce Barnes would win the first game in the bottom of the seventh for the Mountaineers, as
Delani Buckner earned her fourth win in the circle, throwing the complete game and giving up three runs on four hits, striking out six. Game two was all App State as the Mountaineers scored early and often to take the 8-0 run-rule victory. The Mountaineers scored in every inning except for the second to record their 24
th victory on the season.
Emily Parrott and
Kayt Houston have been hot at the plate for the Mountaineers, including big games against ETSU. Parrott went 5-for-7 on the day with four RBIs, including the game-clinching RBI in the second game to enforce the run rule. Houston was 5-for-6 on the day with an RBI and three doubles. Her on base percentage now sits at .441. Only five Buccaneers reached safely in game two as
Kenzie Longanecker threw her second shutout on the season. She gave up only three hits and struck out four, improving to 12-4 on the year.
Senior Celebration
Throughout the home season, the Mountaineers will recognize their six seniors in a pregame ceremony. This weekend, App State will recognize 5
th year seniors
Kenzie Longanecker and
Sidney Russell.
A member of the softball team for five seasons, Longanecker has appeared in 123 games in a Mountaineer uniform, making the start in the circle for 86 of them. Over her 610 innings pitched, the right-hander has logged 47 wins, eight shutouts and four saves. Her current career ERA sits at 2.72 and she has struck out 421 batters over the course of five seasons.
Russell has appeared in 181 games, making the start in 176 of them. In 499 at bats, she has posted 111 hits, including 28 doubles, three triples and four home runs. She currently has 60 RBIs over the course of her career and has scored 66 runs and stolen 12 bases.
Scouting Troy
The Trojans most recently split a midweek doubleheader against Georgia Tech, falling in the first game 4-2 and taking the second game 9-5. Troy has notable wins against Ole Miss, North Carolina and Memphis. Kelly Horne and Katie Webb lead the Trojans at the plate, hitting .378 and .374, respectively, both with four home runs. Horne leads the team in doubles with 16 and Webb adds 27 RBIs. Leanna Johnson is 17-5 in the circle with 133 innings pitched. She has struck out 200 batters this season and is holding opponents to a .161 batting average.
