Mountaineers Stumble in Doubleheader at Troy

TROY, Ala. – The App State softball team (23-18, 7-9 Sun Belt) dropped a pair of contests against Troy (25-13, 11-7 Sun Belt) in a series-closing doubleheader on Friday. The Trojans took Game 1 by a final score of 6-2 before winning the nightcap 7-3.
 
GAME 1
Sejal Neas got the start to open the day, working hard early as she got out of a two-on, one-out jam in the bottom of the first. Troy got on the board in the second though, plating two runs after an RBI-double from Kennedi Gaton that drove in Anslee Finch and a single from Kelly Horne that scored Gaton.
 
The Mountaineers began to find to success at the plate midway through the contest but couldn't crack the scoreboard. Back-to-back singles from Emily Parrott and Kayt Houston put App State in scoring position. Then in the top of the fourth, McKenzie McCullen singled and Addie Wray laid down a bunt but the Mountaineers still couldn't find a run.
 
Troy scored three runs in the fifth and then added a run in the sixth to go up 6-0. A late push from the Mountaineers started in the seventh when Emma Jones and Houston registered singles to get on base. Jones then scored on a wild pitch to put App State on the board. Baylee Morton then singled through the left side to bring in Houston for the final run of the game.
 
GAME 2
After scoring the last two runs of the first contest, App State scored the first two of the second game. Mary Pierce Barnes laced a two-RBI single that brought in Jones and Houston. Delani Buckner got the nod in the nightcap, working out of a one-out, bases loaded jam in the bottom half of the first.
 
However, the Trojans regained the advantage in the bottom of the third when they scored a trio of runs to go up 3-2. A two-run bomb in the bottom of the fourth highlighted seven consecutive runs from the Trojans to put them up five. App State tallied the last run of the night when Morton doubled to left center to bring Houston home, cementing the score at 7-3.
 
Morton and Barnes both registered three hits on the night as they also combined for three RBIs. Houston and Wray contributed with two hits each. Houston also scored three times over the course of both contests.
 
App State returns to action on Tuesday evening when they travel to ETSU for a non-conference doubleheader. The Mountaineers swept the Bucs in a midweek doubleheader back on April 6, winning the games 8-1 and 8-0.