SAN MARCOS, Texas — App State Softball opens its Sun Belt Conference schedule this weekend with a three-game series at Texas State.
The Mountaineers and Bobcats are both 11-7 overall heading into a series-opening doubleheader on Saturday, with Game 1 scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT). Sunday's series finale is scheduled for noon ET (11 a.m. CT).
App State had a scheduled home opener against Boston College on Wednesday canceled by inclement weather following a 4-1 weekend in which its only Bulldog Classic loss occurred against 16th-ranked event host Georgia. The Mountaineers went 2-0 against both Ohio and UMass.
For the five games, App State batted .336 as a team, led by
Kayt Houston, who went 9-for-20 (.450) with seven RBIs, two homers, four extra-base hits and six runs scored. Four pitchers (
Delani Buckner,
Taylor Nichols,
Kaylie Northrop and
Sejal Neas) earned a win.
Buckner, the most experienced pitcher on App State's staff, has started seven games this season. In those starts, she is 5-0 with three complete games, a 1.39 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 35.1 innings.
App State has moved forward from its third straight winning season under head coach
Shelly Hoerner and its first-ever Sun Belt Tournament victory. The Mountaineers finished the 2021 season with a 27-19 record and placed fifth in the Sun Belt — the top four teams made the NCAA tournament.
Among the returning starters are catcher
Baylee Morton, who hit eight home runs a year ago. Other returners who started at least 18 games include shortstop
Emma Jones (.397 average in an injury-shortened year) and a trio of outfielders in Houston (.326 average in 2021),
Emily Parrott and
Mary Pierce Barnes.
Last year, Texas State tied for second in the Sun Belt standings while going 39-14 overall and winning an NCAA regional game vs. Oregon.
Texas State already has played six games against teams that were ranked in the top 25 or receiving votes. The Bobcats possess a 2-0 win against No. 22 Arizona State and a 4-3 victory against Iowa State (receiving votes), plus an 11-10 loss to No. 9 Arizona.
