BOONE, N.C. — Kayt Houston had six hits, including a two-run, rooftop-striking homer in a Game 1 win, as App State Softball split a doubleheader with Western Carolina on Tuesday in the 2022 home debut for the Mountaineers.
App State (15-11) posted a 9-2 win in the opener behind a 3-for-4 effort with five RBIs from Hosuston.
Emily Parrott scored three times and
Addison Jones went 2-for-3 with two runs scored in support of
Taylor Nichols, who allowed one earned run in a complete-game victory.
A three-run homer in the eighth inning lifted Western Carolina (12-12) to a 5-2, extra-inning victory in the second game. Houston went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, and starting pitcher
Kaylie Northrop didn't allow an earned run in five innings.
"It was great to finally play in front of our hometown fans here on the mountain," head coach
Shelly Hoerner said. "The crowd we had was awesome — thank you. We are continuing to compete every game and get better as the season goes on. We have to get better at consistency and production in critical situations, and I know we will. This team has the drive to be better daily, and I love that about us."
The Mountaineers return to action Friday with the start of a three-game Sun Belt series at ULM.
GAME 1 RECAP
Parrott scored on a Houston double in the first, and Houston struck again with a no-doubt homer to center in the third to again bring Parrott home.
Run-scoring hits from
Addie Wray in the fourth and
Baylee Morton (double) in the fifth contributed to App State leading 5-2 before it put together a four-run sixth. Parrott drew a bases-loaded walk before Houston delivered a two-run single, and
Mary Pierce Barnes added an RBI groundout.
Barnes made the play of the day in the fourth inning, when she made a diving catch in center and threw to first to double-up the Western Carolina baserunner. Morton also threw out a steal attempt from Western's leadoff hitter, who arrived in Boone with 12 stolen bases this season.
Nichols allowed six hits and struck out four batters while improving to 4-3.
GAME 2 RECAP
Western Carolina scored twice in the top of the third inning, but App State got a run back on
McKenzie McCullen's third-inning RBI single to score Houston. The Mountaineers tied the game as Houston scored again in the fifth, this time on a Morton single.
Houston also registered her fifth assist of the season from right field by throwing out a runner at the plate to limit the damage in the two-run third.
A two-out homer in the top of the eight from Western Carolina's Bailey Huneycutt broke the tie.
