Softball Goes 3-1 at PC Invitational

CLINTON, S.C - App State Softball split a pair of Sunday games and went 3-1 over the weekend at the PC Invitational.
 
Now 5-2 on the season, App State started Sunday off with a 6-0 win over Detroit Mercy. Taylor Nichols and Sejal Neas combined for a two-hit shutout to help lead the Mountaineers. 
 
They fell in the second game of the day by an 8-0 score to Presbyterian.
 
App State will be back in action next week, playing in an event hosted by College of Charleston. The Mountaineers' five games will be against Western Carolina, College of Charleston (twice) and UConn (twice) over a three-day span from Friday through Sunday.
 
Game 1 Recap:
 
Detroit Mercy tried to rally late by loading the bases with no outs in the seventh inning, but a four-run sixth inning as well as great pitching and defense helped the Mountaineers secure the shutout victory. 
 
The two-hit shutout followed a one-hit shutout in Saturday's second game – a 13-0 win against North Carolina Central.
 
App State's first run (in the bottom half of the first inning) and second run (in the bottom half of the fifth) both came by way of sac flies by Emily Parrott to score Emma Jones. 
 
McKenzie McCullen and Kayt Houston each recorded an RBI single and Addie Wray had a two-run single in the bottom half of the sixth to give the Mountaineers a 6-0 advantage going into the last inning.
 
On the mound, Nichols allowed no runs, gave up two hits and struck out seven Titans batters in six-plus innings. Neas came on in the seventh with the bases loaded and retired the side without allowing a run. 
 
Jones had two hits and scored twice from the leadoff spot. Parrott and Wray finished with two RBIs apiece.
 
Game 2 Recap: 
 
Presbyterian capitalized on a five-run fifth inning to help defeat the Mountaineers.
 
Wray accounted for App State's only hit.
 
Kaylie Northrop, Delani Buckner and Neas all took the mound for the Mountaineers. Northrop recorded three strikeouts, and Buckner had one in the loss.