CHARLESTON, S.C. — Thanks to six near-perfect innings from
Delani Buckner, App State won 6-1 against event host College of Charleston to split two Saturday games at the Cougar Classic.
Buckner retired 18 of the first 19 hitters she faced, with a fifth-inning double serving as Charleston's first hit, and the Mountaineers (7-4) took a 6-0 lead to the bottom of the seventh inning. She finished with two hits allowed and four strikeouts in a complete-game win that pushed her record to 4-0 this season.
Buckner has allowed one earned run and six hits over 18.0 innings in her last three starts. She has struck out 20 batters in that stretch.
In the first game Saturday, after a Friday split,
Taylor Nichols allowed just one earned run as App State fell 2-1 against UConn. The Mountaineers will face UConn again Sunday at 11 a.m.
GAME 2 RECAP
App State took immediate control against the Cougars, scoring twice in the top of the first inning and adding a run in the third before gaining separation with a three-run sixth.
Mary Pierce Barnes went 3-for-3 with two RBIs.
Kayt Houston and
Emma Jones posted two hits apiece, and
Baylee Morton scored twice.
App State loaded the bases in the first inning on a Jones single, plus one-out walks to
McKenzie McCullen and Morton. Houston's single through the left side produced the first run, and Barnes drew a bases-loaded walk.
The Mountaineers loaded the bases again in the third with Morton drawing a walk, Houston reaching on an error and Barnes hitting an infield single. Morton scored on
Kylie LaRousa's sacrifice fly.
The three-run seventh included pinch-runner
Addison Jones scoring on a Morton double, Morton going home on a Barnes single and Houston scoring as Barnes was thrown out on a steal attempt.
GAME 1 RECAP
Nichols finished with eight strikeouts on the mound against UConn, which erased a 1-0 deficit with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
Addie Wray hit a triple for App State and scored a third-inning run on
Emily Parrott's RBI single.
UConn tied the game with a solo homer and moved ahead with an unearned run.
