CONWAY, S.C. – The App State softball team (29-23, 10-14 Sun Belt) opened their final series of the regular season with a pair of losses at Coastal Carolina (20-27, 6-17 Sun Belt) on Thursday. The Chanticleers took the series opener by a final score of 2-0 before picking up a 6-5 walk-off victory in the nightcap. The Sun Belt series in the Palmetto State serves as the final tune up before the conference tournament in Mobile, Ala. Next week.
GAME 1 RECAP
The opening contest of the day was a defensive battle for the majority of the game.
Mary Pierce Barnes flashed the leather in the bottom of the second when she laid out in center field to keep things scoreless game through two innings.
It was still a hitless affair at the midway point of the contest. Coastal Carolina then loaded the bases in the bottom half of the fourth inning but ultimately failed to plate the first run of the day.
The Chanticleers struck with back-to-back one-run innings starting in the fifth frame. A solo shot from Abby Jankay opened the scoring before a sacrifice fly from Iyanla De Jesus in the sixth brought in the final run of the game to cap the score line at 2-0.
Sejal Neas took the loss, pitching the entirety of the ball game. The freshman struck out four batters across six innings of work.
GAME 2 RECAP
The Chanticleers gained an early advantage, plating four runs in the second frame. Coastal Carolina got on the board following consecutive two-RBI singles from Makiya Thomas and Abbey Montoya. Thomas singled down the right field line to plate a pair of runs before Montoya's blooper added two more.
The Mountaineers responded in the top of the third inning, plating four runs to even things back up. After back-to-back singles from
Emma Jones and
Emily Parrott, a pair of walks allowed App State to walk in their first run of the day.
Baylee Morton ripped a two-RBI single to bring in
Kayt Houston and Barnes to trim the deficit to one run. Just a few pitches later,
Taylor Thorp connected for a two-out, RBI-single up the middle to that brought
McKenzie McCullen home.
After a pair of scoreless innings, App State put Jones at third and Parrott at second before a weather delay halted play. Upon resumption, Houston was walked to load the bases but the Mountaineers couldn't put a run across.
With
Abby Cunningham and
Addie Wray on the corners in the top of the seventh, Thorp was robbed of a three-run homer but the sacrifice fly gave the Mountaineers their first run of the day.
Coastal Carolina responded in the bottom half after a pair of solo home runs gave the Chanticleers the series win in walk-off fashion. A solo shot from Riley Zana leveled the nightcap before Maddy Jennings went yard to clinch the series.
Delani Buckner was handed the loss as she fanned two batters across six innings of work.
Thorp led the Mountaineers with a pair of hits and a pair of RBIs on the day. Parrott also had two hits while also scoring one run. Jones added a couple hits while Morton contributed with one hit to drive in two runs.
These two teams will play in the series finale tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcasted on ESPN+. Tomorrow's solo contest will close out the regular season.
