CLINTON, S.C. – App State softball split the final day of the Pinnacle PC Invitational, defeating Seton Hall, 3-0, before falling to undefeated Presbyterian, 1-0.
The Black & Gold allowed only one run in 13 innings of defense across two games and allowed none through the first 11.
Recapping Game 1 (App State 3, Seton Hall 0)
The Mountaineers responded to an 8-0 loss to Seton Hall on Saturday with a shutout of their own on Sunday.
Kaylie Northrop shined against the Pirates, earning a shutout in her first start of the season and punching a career-high eight strikeouts. Northrop and her team allowed no runners on base for four of the seven innings, including the final three.
The game was scoreless until the fourth inning when McKenzie McCullen landed her second double of the contest, bringing in a run by Mary Pierce Barnes. Moments later, Addie Wray singled to bring in Claire Carson, giving the Mountaineers a 2-0 advantage.
In the sixth inning, Emily Parrott extended the lead by flying out and bringing in Abby Cunningham, who pinch-ran for Kylie LaRousa.
The Black & Gold finished with seven hits to the Pirates' two, led by Kayt Houston and McCullen who each had a pair. Defensively, McCullen put out 12 Pirates, and LaRousa put out six.
Recapping Game 2 (Presbyterian 1, App State 0)
The Mountaineer defense held the undefeated Blue Hose to their lowest-scoring game of the season in a one-run defeat.
In Kapri Toone's first start as a Mountaineer, she pitched all six innings that her team played defensively and tallied three strikeouts. Toone struck out the first batter she saw as a starter to begin the bottom of the first.
App State was unable to score despite six hits, three of which were doubles by Houston, Kaley Coltrain and Ambry Lucas
Presbyterian picked up its only run in the fifth inning, which was immediately followed by Lucas' double at the top of the sixth.
Parrott and Sidney Martin combined for another three hits against the talented Blue Hose defense that has shut out five of its eight opponents in 2023.
Up Next
Now sitting at 3-3, App State will head to the beach for a weekend series at UNCW where the squad will match up with Georgetown, Eastern Kentucky, and the hosting Seahawks.
The Mountaineers' first home game will take place on Mar. 8 against North Carolina.
