WILMINGTON, N.C. – App State softball completed a perfect 5-0 weekend on Sunday with wins over Eastern Kentucky and UNCW. The Mountaineers overtook the Colonels, 9-2, before defeating the Seahawks, 9-3.
Weekend Scores
2/24: App State 3, Georgetown 0
2/25: App State 3, Georgetown 1
2/25: App State 6, UNCW 4
2/26: App State 9, Eastern Kentucky 2
2/26: App State 9, UNCW 3
The Mountaineers, who improved to 8-3, scored a combined 18 runs through their two contests on Sunday while allowing only five on defense. App State secured the season sweep over UNCW after dominating its sole outing against the Colonels. Kayt Houston had a trio of hits in both games on a day that she posted two doubles, three runs and four RBI.
Game 1 Recap (App State 9, Eastern Kentucky 2)
App State set the tone for the day in the first inning, tallying three runs to open Game 1. After a single by Kaley Coltrain with two outs, McKenzie McCullen was walked on the next at-bat. Sidney Martin rocked a single that brought in Coltrain as Martin and McCullen advanced to second and third.
Taylor Thorp singled to right-center on the next at-bat, bringing in both runners to make the score 3-0 in the middle of the first. This was the first of seven batters that Thorp batted in between the two games on Sunday.
Two innings later, McCullen punched a double, followed by another big hit by Thorp, also a double, that brought in a run. Kylie LaRousa brought in Thorp shortly after as the Mountaineers increased their lead to five. This would be the first of three consecutive innings in that App State scored a pair of runs.
In the top of the fourth, Houston hit her fourth double of the season, following a single up the middle by Emily Parrott. Coltrain was hit by a pitch after Houston's hit, loading all three bases. McCullen was walked a second time, bringing in a run by Parrott. Thorp followed that by flying out to bring in Houston.
Singles by Abby Cunningham, Houston and Coltrain in the fifth improved the lead to nine.
Kapri Toone, who picked up her first win as a Mountaineer, pitched four scoreless innings before being relieved in the fifth inning when the Colonels picked up their only two runs. Kaylie Northrop stepped into the circle and faced 10 batters in three innings, striking out five of them and allowing no hits.
Game 2 Recap (App State 9, UNCW 3)
The Mountaineers stamped incredible offensive performances in late innings for the second consecutive time against the Seahawks.
App State scored in the first inning for the fourth straight game, thanks to an RBI by McCullen.
The score halted at 1-0 through the fourth inning as both defenses prevailed. Delani Buckner pitched her second win of the year, striking out four batters in four innings before Sejal Neas came on to relieve.
Coltrain hit her third home run of the weekend in the top of the fifth, all three of which came against UNCW. The Seahawks responded in the bottom of the inning, tying the game at two runs apiece.
The Black & Gold answered with seven runs in the sixth inning. Cunningham made the go-ahead hit that brought in Hannah Forbes to start things off. Moments later, Houston hit a three-run double to right-center to bring in Addie Wray, Claire Carson and Mary Pierce Barnes.
After a stolen base by Martin, Thorp mirrored Houston's big hit with a three-run double of her own, this one going to right-center to bring in Coltrain, Martin and Houston.
The Seahawks picked up one last run to slightly decrease the seven-run deficit, but the Mountaineers would win their fifth straight game for the first time since Feb. 20, 2022.
Up Next
App State will visit ETSU at 4 p.m. on Tuesday as the squad seeks its sixth straight win for the first time since Apr. 11, 2021.
