ELON, N.C. — App State picked up its second win of the season by bouncing back to beat Saint Francis 9-7 in the Elon Softball Classic on Sunday.
The Mountaineers improve to 2-1 after dropping the opener to Saint Francis and defeating IUPUI on Saturday. The Mountaineers were scheduled to play the Elon Phoenix following the Saint Francis win, but that game was canceled due to inclement weather.
App State scored runs in the first, third, fourth, fifth and sixth to take control of the game before Saint Francis, which was 40-10 and reached an NCAA Regional last year, tried to rally back late.
Mary Pierce Barnes went 3-for-5 with four RBIs, and
Addie Wray went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs to help lead the Mountaineers to victory over the Red Flash.
App State took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning and followed that by putting five runs up on the board in the third.
The Red Flash scored six runs late to try and rally back, but the Mountaineers were able to secure the win in the bottom of the seventh.
Sophomore pitcher
Delani Buckner recorded her first win of the new season by throwing 4.1 innings and allowing four earned runs with two strikeouts. Freshman
Sejal Neas relieved Buckner in the fourth and went 2.1 innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out one.
Sophomore
Kaylie Northrop recorded the save for the Mountaineers by striking out the only batter she faced in the bottom of the seventh.
App State will be back in action next week playing in the Presbyterian Tournament in Clinton, S.C. The Mountaineers will square off against Detroit Mercy, North Carolina Central and Presbyterian over the two-day event on Saturday and Sunday.
