CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- After picking up its second Sun Belt series win this past weekend, App State Softball (17-13) traveled to UNC for a midweek, non-conference matchup and lost 8-4.
A solo shot from
Emma Jones in the top of the third inning broke the deadlock and put the Mountaineers up 1-0.
Baylee Morton also blasted a solo home run, this time in the top of the fourth, to double App State's advantage. The Tar Heels responded with three runs in the bottom half of the fourth to take their first lead of the day. UNCÂ added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend its lead to 5-2.
A late push from App State started when
Mary Pierce Barnes and
McKenzie McCullen both ripped a single in the top of the sixth before an inning-ending flyout left the duo stranded in scoring position. A trio of runs for UNC in the bottom of the sixth pushed the Tar Heel advantage to six runs. The Mountaineers responded in the top of the seventh via an RBI groundout from
Kayt Houston and an RBI double from Barnes to trim the deficit to four.
Jones and Barnes led App State with a pair of hits each, both recording one single and one double. Morton, McCullen and
Addie Wray all tallied one hit apiece for the Mountaineers.
Delani Buckner got the start and struck out three batters, pitching a hitless first-three innings.
The Mountaineers return to action on Friday against Georgia Southern for their first Sun Belt Conference series at home this season. First pitch for Friday's contest is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
