Softball Returns to Sun Belt Play, Hosts ULM This Weekend

BOONE, N.C. -- The App State softball team returns to Sun Belt play this weekend after a week of non-conference matchups. The Mountaineers enter Saturday's doubleheader with a 17-10 overall record and a 1-5 conference 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 tallied its sixth straight win on Wednesday afternoon, taking down UNC Greensboro 4-3. The Mountaineers moved 17-10 on the season, while UNCG fell to 17-11.
 
The Mountaineers used a balanced attack against the Spartans, with five different players tallying a hit. Taylor Thorp had the go-ahead two RBI single in the fourth and Gabby Buruato added the insurance RBI in the sixth to push the Mountaineers to victory. Sidney Russell tallied the other RBI for App State in the fourth off a double to left field.
 
Buruato and Kayt Houston are the big bats in the Mountaineer lineup, with both players hitting over .300. Buruato remains consistent at the plate, hitting .373 on the year with 31 hits, including six doubles and one triple. Her 31 hits are good for ninth in the Sun Belt. Houston is hitting .346 on the year, with 28 hits, five doubles, two triples and three home runs. Baylee Morton continues to lead the Sun Belt with seven home runs.
 
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 Keri White on Saturday and Caylie Kifer on Sunday.
 
A member of the softball team for five seasons, White has appeared in 195 games in a Mountaineer uniform, making the start in 186 of them. In her 585 at bats, the third baseman has tallied 170 hits, scored 105 runs and posted 59 RBIs. She has stolen 37 bases and her current slugging percentage sits at .373. White has hit 26 doubles over the course of five years, as well as two triples and six home runs.
 
Kifer has started in every single game for the Mountaineers over her three seasons, seeing action at shortstop in 104 possible games. In 297 at bats, she has posted 63 hits, scored 54 runs and tallied 25 RBIs. Kifer has stolen 17 stolen bases over the course of her career, as well as hitting 10 doubles and one home run.
 
Scouting ULM
 
The Warhawks are currently 10-17 on the season and 4-4 in Sun Belt Play. ULM took two games in its series against Coastal Carolina and Georgia Southern, but fell in all three games against UTA. At the plate, Korie Kreps and Jayden Mount lead the Warhawks, hitting .342 and .341, respectively. Kreps has 27 hits on the year, with 10 doubles, one triple and three home runs. Mount has tallied 28 hits, including five doubles, one triple and three home runs. ULM has used five pitchers over the course of the season, with Gianni Hulett seeing the most innings in the circle with 53 innings pitched. She has a 3.96 ERA on the season, giving up 66 hits and striking out 25 so far this year.