BOONE, N.C. -- The Appalachian State softball team kicked off conference play at home in style after a walk-off home run from Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week
Kayt Houston sealed a 2-1 victory over Georgia Southern. In what was a heavily defensive contest, the Mountaineers snagged the win in the bottom of the eighth inning to open the weekend's three-game series.
The Eagles got on the board early, scoring their only run of the game in the top of the first inning. Jess Mazur's RBI double drove in Ashleigh Duty to give Georgia Southern the early advantage. App State responded in the bottom of the second after
Kennedy Upshire singled through the left side to bring home
McKenzie McCullen.
After five consecutive scoreless innings, the Mountaineers walked it off in the bottom half of inning number eight. Houston roped a shot over the left field wall that just snuck inside the foul pole. The game-ending at bat gave the sophomore her seventh home run of the season.
Five Mountaineers contributed with one hit each.
Emma Jones,
Emily Parrott and
Addie Wray all recorded one single to accompany Upshire's game-tying RBI single and Houston's walk-off home run.
Taylor Nichols got the start for App State, pitching a pair of innings and giving up just one run.
Sejal Neas came in to relieve and gave up a trio of hits en route to the win.Â
The Mountaineers and Eagles will go at it again tomorrow for Game 2 of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
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