BOONE, N.C. – App State fell to North Carolina on Tuesday, 5-3, in a back-and-forth brawl.
Sejal Neas and the App State defense did not allow a runner on base until the top of the fifth, allowing Sidney Martin to secure her team's lead with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third.
Both teams were scoreless through the first two frames, despite a double by Addie Wray, her first of the season and fifth of her career.
The Mountaineers struck first in the third after a single by Mary Pierce Barnes. Kayt Houston reached on a fielder's choice before Martin bombed it past center-field. Martin has tallied 12 RBI this season, the fourth-most on the team.
The Tar Heels tallied their first hit in the sixth inning, where they would score all five of their runs. Kaylie Northrop relieved Neas and secured the last two outs to end the inning. North Carolina led, 5-2, in the middle of the sixth.
The Mountaineers responded with an aggressive inning at the plate, loading the bases and bringing in one run. Wray brought pinch-runner Claire Carson home with a walk-RBI to cut the lead to two.
Kaylie Northrop struck out all three batters in the top of the seventh to give her team one last chance, but the Mountaineers would not be able to make noise in the final frame.
Neas and Northrop struck out four batters apiece, as Northrop improved her season ERA to 2.03.
The Black and Gold will finish their homestand tomorrow against North Carolina A&T at 4 p.m.
