WILMINGTON, N.C. – Despite recording one hit through the first three innings of play, the App State softball team's offense erupted for 11 runs over the final two innings of play to post a run-rule victory in a reshuffled Saturday schedule. All it took for the Mountaineers to get on the board was a
Madison McIntyre sacrifice fly, and the floodgates opened until the final out.
The Mountaineers (3-0) saw huge performances from both
KB Bradshaw,
Emilie Ching and
Makayla McClain, as the trio combined for two home runs, six RBIs and five hits in nine at-bats. Although she didn't start the game, Bradshaw tallied two hits and three RBIs in her first action as a Mountaineer, and went back-to-back with Ching in App State's seven-run fifth inning for her first home run as a Mountaineer. Ching's home run was the first of her career.
App State's pitching staff also played a big role in its third straight win to open the season, as
Sophie Moshos and
Bel Varadi combined to shut out George Washington (1-2), while allowing three hits. Moshos, who now owns a 2-0 record on the young season, struck out four hitters, and Varadi punched out two in her lone inning of work. App State's pitchers have allowed just three earned runs through the first three games of the season.
How it Happened
The Mountaineers opened the game with a two-out threat thanks to a single by
Leah Gore, but George Washington stranded two to post a scoreless top of the first. Moshos worked around a single in George Washington's half of the first to keep the game scoreless, and action quickly moved to the third inning after both sides tallied a 1-2-3 second inning.
McClain walked in the third with one out and stole a base to put a runner in scoring position, but the Revolutionaries kept the game scoreless with a popout. Moshos faced her first trouble in the bottom of the third after George Washington recorded a single and a double to put runners on second and third, but the lefty forced weak contact, and App State got out of the inning unscathed.
App State took the momentum from a shut-down inning and scored four runs on six hits to open up a 4-0 lead. Three straight singles from Gore,
Grace Barrett and
Taylor Schafer loaded the bases with nobody out before McIntyre scored Gore with a sacrifice fly. A single by
Dakota Daniel loaded the bases again, and McClain stroked a single into center field to plate two, extending App State's lead to three with only one out.
Pinch-hitting and making her first at-bat as a Mountaineer, Bradshaw capped off the inning with a single into right field to plate Daniel. Moshos responded to her offense by posting a scoreless fourth inning, and App State posted another crooked number in the fifth inning to blow the game wide open.
Barrett started the inning with an RBI single to score Gore, and Daniel stroked a hit into center field that scored two runs, which made it a seven-run game with nobody out. McClain extended the inning with her second hit of the day, and Bradshaw smoked a two-run home run high over the left-field wall to make it 10-0 App State. Still with two outs, Ching went back-to-back with Bradshaw, walloping a solo home run into left field. The inning finally ended with a groundout, but App State had opened up an 11-0 lead.
Looking to close out its third straight win, App State turned to Varadi in the circle, who struck out the last two hitters to clinch a run-rule victory. App State's 12 hits in the game marked its most on the young season.
Saturday Notes
Home runs
App: Bradshaw (1), Ching (1)
GWU: N/A
WP:
Sophie Moshos (2-0): 4 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs, 4 strikeouts, 0 walks
SV: N/A
LP: Cece Smith (0-2): 3.2 IP, 7 hits, 3 strikeouts, 1 walk
Up Next
The Mountaineers will take aim at the tournament host for the second time on Sunday, which will close out action at the UNCW Tournament. Due to weather in the Wilmington area, first pitch on Sunday is now scheduled for 2:30 p.m. (was originally scheduled for 12:30 p.m.). The game will be broadcast on FloCollege.
