HUNTINGTON, W. Va. – Opening up the month of April, the App State softball team is slated to hit the road for the first time since March 15 to take on the current Sun Belt co-leader, Marshall, in a weekend set this Thursday-Saturday. First pitch from Dot Hicks Field in Huntington, W. Va., is slated for Thursday at 6 p.m., and all three contests will be broadcast on ESPN+.
The Matchup
- Who: App State (23-10, 4-5 SBC) at Marshall (25-10, 7-2 SBC)
- Where: Dot Hicks Field // Huntington, W. Va.
- When: Thursday, April 2 – Saturday, April 4
Tune In
- Watch | ESPN+ (All Games)
- Live Stats: appstatesports.com (All Games)
Last Time Out
Despite losing the first contest after a multitude of rain delays, the Mountaineers bounced back well to win the series against Georgia State, posting an 11-1 win on Saturday and an 8-7 win in nine innings on Sunday. App State clinched the series in thrilling fashion, coming back from down seven runs to post an extra-inning win.
Makayla McClain made a huge impact in Sunday's decider, as she hit an emphatic game-tying three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning with App State down three runs, before making a mad dash home to score on an infield hit by
Grace Barrett to win the game. Barrett poked the ball past the pitcher to the shortstop behind second base, and McClain never stopped running and dove in safely at the plate to score.
In addition to McClain's and Barrett's heroics, App State saw a huge contribution in the circle from
Sophie Moshos in the series-clinching win, as the lefty posted 7.1 innings of scoreless softball in relief. App State trailed by seven runs after just two innings, but Moshos gave it a chance by shutting out Georgia State the rest of the way. She struck out four in her outing, while allowing just four hits.
Leading Off
This weekend's series in Huntington will be a matchup against the two top teams in the Sun Belt Conference in terms of winning percentage (Marshall, .714 - first and App State, .697 - second). The Mountaineers and the Thundering Herd also both rank at the top of the conference in wins this season.
The Mountaineers made history again last weekend as they set their program home run record for the second consecutive season in the seventh inning on McClain's game-tying three-run home run against Georgia State. App State has set its program record in both seasons that
Whitney Jones has been the head coach (set the previous record of 58 back in 2025).
There could be more history set this weekend, as App State needs to score just 18 runs to set its program record for runs scored in a season. The Mountaineers fell six short of their current program record of 276 (set in 2022) last season. Entering the weekend, App State has scored 529 runs in 83 games under
Whitney Jones (6.4 runs per game).
In addition to setting App State's team program record for home runs on Sunday, McClain also tied Katie Boyd's record for home runs in a season with her 17th of the year. If she hits one home run this weekend, she will become App State's all-time single-season home run leader.
After posting a series win over Georgia State at home last weekend, the Mountaineers sit at 23 wins, which puts them eight away from the single-season record (31 games). App State's 23 wins currently rank tied for the 10th-most wins in a season in program history. App State's 23 wins also match its win total from last year. With one win this weekend, App State would have its most wins in a season since 2022 (29 wins).
Scouting the Mountaineers
Entering this weekend's series vs. Marshall, App State ranks 68th in the NCAA RPI rankings as of March 31. App State currently owns the sixth-highest RPI in the Sun Belt Conference entering the weekend. This would mark App State's best RPI finish among Sun Belt Conference teams ever.
Entering this weekend's series at Marshall, App State boasts 12 top-50 ranks nationally. Among these rankings, App State stands in the top 50 in the country in on-base percentage (36th - .424), scoring offense (14th – 7.85), slugging percentage (21st - .588) and walks (30th – 145). App State's offense has been among the best in the Sun Belt this season, as they lead the Sun Belt in seven offensive categories entering the weekend.
The long ball has played an integral role in App State's offense, as the Mountaineers rank 11th nationally in home runs (59) and home runs per game (1.79) entering the weekend. The Mountaineers' 59 home runs are the most in the Sun Belt entering the weekend, and make them one of 27 teams nationally with 50 or more home runs.
App State's offense has been among the best in the Sun Belt, as it enters the weekend with the most runs in the league (259). The Mountaineers have scored 10 or more runs 12 times this season, which leads the Sun Belt Conference. The last time the Mountaineers reached double-digit 10-run games in a season was in 2024 (totaled 10 10-run games that season).
Through 33 games this season, it's become clear that the Mountaineers boast two of the top freshmen in the Sun Belt Conference.
Taylor Schafer enters the weekend as the Sun Belt's leader among freshmen in both home runs (10) and RBIs (35). These marks also rank among the top 10 in the NCAA among freshmen. In the circle, freshman
Camryn Fisher has become one of the top pitchers in the Sun Belt, as she stands second in the league in wins (13), 21st in ERA (4.19) and fifth in strikeouts (87).
App State's batch of nine newcomers has stepped up to the challenge so far this season, as newcomers have combined to scorch 100 hits and have hit 30 home runs. Entering the weekend, three of App State's top four home-run hitters are newcomers in Schafer (second),
Emilie Ching (third) and
Madison Fletcher (fourth).
McClain and Barrett lead App State's offensive attack, as the two have combined for 88 hits, 20 home runs, 80 RBIs and 16 doubles. McClain leads the Sun Belt Conference in two of the three triple crown categories (home runs and RBIs) and sits third in batting average (.455). Barrett has totaled 20 RBIs over her last 11 games and sits third in the Sun Belt in that category with 37.
Series History
- App State vs. Marshall
- Record: 3-10
- Last Meeting: April 5, 2025
- Trends
- App State and Marshall are slated to meet in Huntington for the second time this weekend.
- An App State win at any point this weekend will be its first at Marshall.
Up Next
Following play against Marshall, the Mountaineers will make a quick stop at home to face off with the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs on Tuesday before heading on the road again to face ULM in Monroe, La., next weekend. First pitch at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium is slated for 6 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
