TROY, ALA. – The App State softball team is set for the 2021 Sun Belt Championship, taking on South Alabama in the first round on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. ET. The Mountaineers enter the tournament as the fifth seed with an 8-12 conference mark and a 26-17 overall record. South Alabama is the fourth seed, entering Wednesday's matchup at 13-9 in Sun Belt play and 26-17 overall.
About the Mountaineers
App State finished the regular season with a three-game series against Coastal Carolina, winning the first game 7-5 but falling in the next two 8-0 and 12-3, respectively. The Mountaineers opened the first game with fire power at the plate, scoring in the first inning off an RBI fielder's choice from
Mary Pierce Barnes.
Baylee Morton came around to score the first run after she reached safely on a walk.
The Mountaineers exploded in the bottom of the second inning, scoring six runs off of three hits and two Chanticleer errors. Two walks started the rally and then
Keri White reached safely on a fielding error by the second baseman. A single from Morton scored White and
Emily Parrott. After another walk loaded the bases, Barnes singled to bring in a run and a fielding error scored Morton.
Taylor Thorp then singled to left field to push the score to 7-0
Delani Buckner came in to pitch for starter
Kenzie Longanecker with two runners on and no outs in the top of the seventh. The freshman forced a pop out and two ground outs to earn her second save of the season and preserve the 7-5 win. Longanecker (14-6) finished with the win, giving up five runs on 12 hits, striking out three.
Sun Belt Accolades
Following the 2021 regular season,
Kenzie Longanecker and
Gabby Buruato have been named to the All-Sun Belt second team, the league announced Monday. The two fifth-year seniors become just the fourth and fifth Mountaineers to be named to the All-Sun Belt second team since App State joined the conference in 2014.
Longanecker will go down in the App State record books as one of the most dominating pitchers in school history, ranking in the top 10 of the conference in multiple categories this regular season. She finished 9th in ERA with a 2.43, 10th in opposing batting average with a .236, 7th in strikeouts with 69 and 6th in wins with 14.
Buruato made her mark this season as one of the most consistent Mountaineers at the plate. In conference play, Buruato has a team-high 20 hits including two doubles and two triples. She is currently ranked T2nd in the Sun Belt in triples with three during the regular season. Overall, the 5th year senior has eight doubles on the year with 17 RBIs.
Turn it!
With 29 double plays turned this season, App State leads the conference with the next closest team at 18. The Mountaineers 0.68 double plays per game also leads the Sun Belt and ranks third nationally.
Scouting the Jaguars
South Alabama finished the regular season with a doubleheader against Troy, falling in the first game 1-0 and taking the second game 7-6. Meredith Keel and Mackenzie Brasher continue to lead the Jaguars at the plate, hitting .387 and .365, respectively. Keel has seven doubles and one triple on the year and Brasher adds three doubles. Abby Krzywiecki leads the team in home runs with seven. In the circle, Olivia Lackie has pitched over 158 innings, posting a 16-9 record with a 1.99 ERA and 213 strikeouts.
