BOONE, N.C. – Leading by seven after a
Macy Hamby two-run double,
Emilie Ching stepped into the box and deposited a walk-off three-run home run over the left-center field wall to give the App State softball team a run-rule victory over N.C. Central on Wednesday. The win was App State's 25th of the year, and the team's 14th straight midweek victory.
In addition to Ching's walk-off home run,
KB Bradshaw gave App State a lead it wouldn't relinquish in the first inning with a two-run home run to dead center field. Bradshaw's first-inning home run was also her 200th career collegiate hit and her first long ball since March 14 at Coastal Carolina.
App State's (25-16) pitching staff continued its recent hot streak on Wednesday against the Eagles (7-33), as the duo of
Sophie Moshos and
Camryn Fisher shut out N.C. Central and allowed just three hits. Moshos struck out six batters in her three innings of work, while Fisher picked up her 14th win of the season to move her into a tie for third place on App State's single-season wins list.
How it Happened
Moshos settled in nicely to begin her day, striking out the side to work around a one-out single.
Makayla McClain led off the game with a single through the left side, and after N.C. Central recorded two outs in a row, Bradshaw shot a laser beam over the center-field wall to give App State a two-run lead through an inning.
N.C. Central saw its lead-off batter reach base in the top of the second, but Moshos retired the next three hitters to keep the Eagles scoreless. App State used some two-out lighting in the bottom of the second to score two more runs, as Ching doubled to put two runners in scoring position, and
Madison Fletcher singled into center field to make the score 4-0.
App State kept the Eagles off the board in the third before scoring for the fifth time in the bottom of the inning. This time, it was
Julia Girk who set up an RBI single by
Taylor Schafer with a double with two outs. Fisher came on to pitch in the fourth inning and picked up where Moshos left off by posting a scoreless frame with a strikeout.
Despite seeing a Fletcher single, the Mountaineers were unable to extend their lead in the fourth, but Fisher worked around a single in the fifth to keep the Eagles scoreless. She was aided by a strong throw from
Marti Henkel to throw out a would-be base stealer to end the frame.
Following up her strong throw, Henkel led off the fifth with an infield hit before Girk hustled out a bunt try to third to put two runners on. An error loaded the bases for Hamby, who split the left-center field gap for a two-RBI double to make the score 7-0. Then, on a 3-2 pitch, Ching smoked a high fly ball into left field for a three-run home run to end the game and give App State its 25th win of the year.
Wednesday Notes
Home runs
App: Bradshaw (5), Ching (10)
NCCU: N/A
WP:
Camryn Fisher (14-7): 2 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts
SV: N/A
LP: Simone Mack (1-11): 11 hits, 10 runs (9 earned runs), 1 walk, 1 strikeout
Up Next
The Mountaineers are set to continue their homestand by welcoming the James Madison Dukes to Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium for a pivotal Sun Belt series. Action against the Dukes is slated to start at 6 p.m. on Friday.
