BOONE, N.C. – Trailing by two runs entering the fifth inning, the App State Softball team needed a spark to close the game. They found that in a huge way with 10 runs in the final two innings, which included four home runs, helping App State post a run-rule victory over the Georgia Southern Eagles 10-2 on Saturday. The Mountaineers didn't record a hit until the fourth inning of play but tallied seven hits across the final two innings.
Madison McIntyre helped spark a six-run fifth inning with a solo home run over the left-field wall, which was the Mountaineers' (10-19, 1-4 SBC) first long ball at their new stadium. McIntyre struck again in the sixth inning for a two-run homer, marking her first career multi-homer game at the collegiate level. The freshman first-baseman tallied three RBI on the day and has five runs driven in heading into the series finale on Sunday.
App State went ahead for good in the fifth inning after
Leah Gore belted a high-arching grand slam over the left-field wall after seeing the Eagles (19-13, 3-2 SBC) make a pitching change. Gore's go-ahead grand slam was App State's second of the season.
Makayla McClain provided the last of the fireworks as she hit a walk-off two-run home run into right-center field, her fourth of the year, helping send the Mountaineer faithful home happy.
Left-handed pitcher
Sophie Moshos dazzled in the circle for the Mountaineers in game 2, going the distance while allowing just two runs. Both runs came with two outs in the third inning. Moshos struck out three hitters, putting her at 396 for her career, and posted her sixth win of the season.
How it Happened
The Mountaineer defense started the contest strong on Saturday, posting a 1-2-3 top of the first inning. Moshos tallied the first strikeout of her day to close the frame.
Macy Hamby worked a one-out walk in the bottom of the first and stole second, but App State couldn't get her home, leaving the game scoreless after a full inning.
Another perfect inning by Moshos sent the Mountaineer bats right back into the dugout, and
Marti Henkel drew the Mountaineers' second walk of the game. Georgia Southern didn't let Henkel get past first base, however, and kept the score at 0-0 entering the third.
The Eagles saw their first baserunner reach to lead off the third inning, a walk to Madi Gillespie. McIntyre helped record the first out of the inning by making a diving play in foul territory on a sacrifice bunt attempt before a fielder's choice quickly tallied the second out. But Georgia Southern struck first with back-to-back doubles to plate two runs with two outs. It would be the last time the Eagles scored in the game.
Trailing for the first time in the game, the Mountaineer bats went quietly in the bottom of the third, but Moshos didn't let that stop her as she stranded the bases loaded to keep App State's deficit to just two after three and a half innings. App State recorded its first hit in the bottom of the fourth, a two-out double by Henkel, but she was tagged out after sliding past the bag.
Moshos continued to keep the Eagles in check in the fifth inning by working around a walk to throw up another zero. Then, the App State bats woke up and took the lead in the bottom of the fifth.
App State's six-run inning began with an out, but McIntyre's first home run of the game trimmed the deficit in half as she shot the first home run at the newly constructed Sywassink/Lloyd Family stadium over the right-center field wall. With one out,
Taylor Chumbley reached base on an error and
Summer Simpson shot a single into left field to put runners on the corners for McClain.
McClain flew a deep shot into right field that held up in play, but it allowed
Jaylee Williams, who pinch-ran for Chumbley, to score which tied the game at two. Georgia Southern made a pitching change and both Hamby and
Grace Barrett walked to load the bases for Gore. The freshman got ahead in the count and blasted a long grand slam over the left-field wall to put the Mountaineers ahead by four. The Eagles finally recorded the last out, but the damage had been done in a big way to put App State on top.
The Mountaineer defense quickly retired the Eagles in the top of the sixth inning and kept up the momentum in the bottom half with four more runs. A bunt single from
Julia Girk helped start the inning and then McIntyre struck again with a long two-run homer to right field for her second goner of the contest. It was McIntyre's first multi-homer game of her career and App State's first multi-homer game of the season.
After a groundout for the first out, Simpson reached base with her second hit of the game and McClain belted the fourth App State homer of the contest the opposite way to walk off Georgia Southern via run rule. App State's four homers were the most it has hit in a game this season.
Saturday Notes
Home runs
App: McIntyre 2 (5), Gore (6), McClain (4)
GS: N/A
WP:
Sophie Moshos (6-6): 6 IP, 3 hits, 2 runs, 4 walks, 3 strikeouts
SV: N/A
LP: Bailey Holland (4-6): 4.1 IP, 3 hits, 3 runs (1 earned run), 2 walks, 3 strikeouts
Up Next
App State and Georgia Southern will compete in the rubber match of its three-game set on Sunday. The Mountaineers will go for their first series win in Sun Belt play this season. First pitch from Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium is slated for 11 a.m. Admission is free.
