CONWAY, S.C. – Although it scored a first-inning run on a
Grace Barrett sacrifice fly, the App State Softball team struggled to find offense in the middle innings, which helped Coastal Carolina post a 3-2 win on Saturday. Coastal Carolina hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first to take the lead and a crucial insurance home run in the fifth to clinch the victory.
App State (20-6, 1-1 SBC) made things interesting in the seventh inning after
KB Bradshaw smashed a solo home run to right-center field with two outs. A batter later,
Madison Fletcher drew a walk in a pinch-hit appearance to bring the go-ahead run to the plate, but a groundout ended the game, leaving Fletcher on first base.
Coastal Carolina's (13-14, 1-1 SBC) McKennah Metzger was strong on Saturday, as she allowed just one hit and three baserunners between
Makayla McClain's lead-off double in the first and Bradshaw's home run with two outs in the seventh. She allowed just three hits in the game and kept App State to its lowest scoring output since March 1 against top-ranked Tennessee (two runs).
Despite taking a tough-luck loss, App State's
Sophie Moshos kept the Mountaineers in the game with a complete-game effort that saw her strike out four hitters. Moshos allowed just three runs in her sixth complete game of the season.
How it Happened
App State started fast and scored the game's first run courtesy of a double by McClain and a sacrifice fly by Barrett, which was her eighth RBI of the week. Coastal limited the damage to just one run and took the lead with a two-run home run off the bat of Georgia Hood in the bottom of the first inning.
Leah Gore drew a one-out walk in the top of the second, and
Dakota Daniel reached on an infield hit to second base to put two runners on with two outs, but the Chanticleers stranded both runners to keep their lead. Both sides went scoreless in their next two at-bats to keep the score 2-1, as Moshos worked around a lead-off double and a walk in the fourth to keep the Mountaineers within one run.
After a scoreless fifth by the Chanticleer defense, Libby Pippen provided a crucial insurance run with a solo home run in the fifth inning to extend their lead to two runs. App State couldn't answer in the sixth inning, but Moshos worked around three singles in the bottom of the inning to strand the bases loaded, which sent action to the final inning with the Mountaineers needing two runs to force extras.
Down to their final three outs, App State saw its first two hitters go down quietly, but Bradshaw unloaded on a ball to right-center field that cleared the wall and gave App State some life as it pulled within a run. A batter later, Fletcher, who pinch-hit for Daniel, drew a four-pitch walk to bring the winning run to the plate. After a passed ball, which sent the game-tying run to second base, Coastal Carolina forced a groundout to third that ended the threat and the game.
Saturday Notes
Home runs
App: Bradshaw (4)
CCU: Hood (11), Pippen (5)
WP: McKennah Metzger (2-0): 7 IP, 3 hits, 2 runs (1 earned run), 3 walks, 4 strikeouts
SV: N/A
LP:
Sophie Moshos (9-3): 6 IP, 6 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts
Up Next
App State will look to win the series on Sunday in the rubber match against Coastal Carolina. First pitch from St. John Stadium is slated for noon, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
