ARLINGTON, TEXAS – The App State softball team took the final game of the Sun Belt series against UTA 2-0, behind a complete game shutout from 5
th year pitcher
Kenzie Longanecker. The Mountaineers are now 25-15 overall and 7-10 in conference play. UTA falls to 16-29 (9-11 SBC).
Longanecker (13-6) gave up only three hits on the day, striking out one and issuing three walks. She was aided by the Mountaineer defense that didn't record a single error on the day. This is the right-hander's third shutout of the season.
The bottom of the lineup produced for App State in the top of the fourth, as
Taylor Thorp and
Emily Parrott each tallied an RBI. Thorp hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score
Sidney Russell and Parrott scored
Gabby Buruato with a single to the third baseman for the 2-0 victory.
Keri White also added two hits for the Mountaineers, as well as
Kayt Houston and
Mary Pierce Barnes who each had one. Longanecker stranded four base runners for the Mavs, with KJ Murphy, Reagan Hukill and Courtney Ogle each recording a hit for UTA. The Mavericks got a two-out base runner in the bottom of the seventh, but the Mountaineer defense worked out of the jam with a ground out to third base to end the game.
The Mountaineers are back at home on Thursday, playing Coastal Carolina in an important Sun Belt series to end the regular season. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. on Thursday, with the final game of the series at 1 p.m. on Friday.
