MONROE, La. — Kayt Houston tied App State's single-game record of three home runs while going 3-for-3 with four RBIs to help lead the Mountaineers to a 6-3 road victory against ULM on Friday in their Sun Belt series opener.
The Mountaineers (16-11, 4-3) will be back in action Saturday for Game 2 of the series, with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT).
Houston got App State started with a two-run homer in the first, then homered in the fourth and sixth innings to create separation from ULM (17-9, 3-4). Her three homers tied
Baylee Morton's school record that was set against UT Arlington in 2019.
"It was a great team win to open the series this weekend," Houston said. "I was seeing the ball really well and stuck to my approach, and I was just doing it for my team."
App State starting pitcher
Delani Buckner shut out ULM for the first five innings, and
Sejal Neas earned the save by recording the final four outs. Neas entered with the bases loaded and two away in the sixth, with the tying run at the plate in a 6-2 game, and Houston threw out a runner at third after one run scored on an RBI single.
Houston came into the night with three home runs on the season but now has four in the last three games — she also homered Tuesday night to open a doubleheader against Western Carolina. With a second-inning walk, she reached in all four of her plate appearances Friday.
Through three games this week, Houston is 9-for-11 with nine RBIs, six runs scored and two outfield assists — increasing her total to six this season.
Mary Pierce Barnes drove in App State's other two runs Friday with a two-run single up the middle in the second inning to stretch the lead to 4-0.
A leadoff walk from
Emma Jones preceded Houston's one-out homer in the first inning, and another Jones walk in the second triggered another two-run frame. After
Emily Parrott reached and a walk to Houston loaded the bases, Barnes singled home Jones and Parrott.
Buckner improved to 7-3 overall and 2-1 in Sun Belt play by allowing three runs on three hits and striking out six batters in 5.2 innings. Neas retired four of the five batters she faced and struck out one.
