BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State University softball will start postseason play on Wednesday, May 8 when it travels to Greensboro, N.C. as the No. 1 seed in the Southern Conference Tournament. The Apps will play at 5 p.m. against the winner of the 9 a.m. game, which features the No. 8 seed, Elon and the No. 9 seed, Samford.
App State has made 11 Southern Conference Tournament appearances, posting a 12-22 all-time record. Appalachian hosted the 2012 SoCon Tournament at Syawssink/Lloyd Family Stadium, defeating UNCG in game one before falling to Georgia Southern and Elon. The Mountaineers have never won a tournament championship, as they look for their first this season, entering the tournament as the No. 1 seed for the first time in program history.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
• Appalachian will appear in its 12th Southern Conference Tournament this weekend as it bring a program-best 30-20 overall record and 17-7 conference record.
• The Apps had the most successful regular season in program history as they posted an NCAA Division I best 18-0 record at home, posted its first 30 win season and broke several single-season records including; doubles (63), RBI (206) and on-base percentage (.358).
• The Mountaineers currently have 36 home runs on the season, which ties the single season record set in 2012.
• For the first time in program history App State finished as Southern Conference regular season champs and will enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed.
• Sophomore Sarah Warnock led the Appalachian offense with a .383 batting average and 59 hits. When batting in the leadoff position, the sophomore catcher has posted a .456 batting average with 31 hits in 68 at-bats. The 2012 SoCon Freshman of the Year scored a team-high 34 runs on the season and notched 13 doubles which ranks second on the team. • Warnock tied for third in the conference in batting average (.383) and hits (59), fourth in on-base percentage (.455) and doubles (13), seventh in runs scored (34), eighth in total bases (81) and ninth in slugging percentage (.526).
• Senior Allie Cashion has been an anchor in the three spot for the Apps as she hit for a .362 batting average with a team-high 18 doubles, eight home runs and 42 RBI. Cashion ranked first in the conference in doubles (18), third in RBI (42), fifth in slugging percentage (.667) and on-base percentage (.454), sixth in total bases (92), seventh in batting average (.362) and eighth in home runs (8).
• Dani Heichen is the only other App player to rank in the top-10 in the SoCon in an offensive category as she ties for fifth with 24 walks and 14 stolen bases.
• Junior Lindsay Loudermilk led the Appalachian offense in its final regular-season series as she knocked the game-winning home run over the right field fence in game one against Georgia Southern and tallied the Apps only hit in game three.
• Sophomore Alissa Schoelkopf (19-10) earned the Mountaineers' only win of the weekend as she posted a 12-4 record in conference play.
• Shivaun Landeros (11-7) capped off her freshman season with a 5-2 record in conference play as she suffered the game two loss against the Eagles.
SCOUTING THE PHOENIX
• Elon enters the tournament with a 13-15 all-time tournament record in its eight appearances and a 21-30 2013 regular season record.
• Last season in the tournament, Elon dropped its first game to Chattanooga before defeating Western Carolina and App State in elimination contests.
• The Phoenix were eventually eliminated by College of Charleston in the next round.
• The Phoenix capped off their SoCon schedule with a sweep over Chattanooga, improving them to 8-14 in conference play and giving them the No. 8 seed in the tournament.
• Elon landed two players on the first tem all-conference team as Tomeka Watson and Carleigh Nester have led the offense all season for Elon.
• Watson posted a league-best .414 batting average with 63 hits, 11 doubles and 14 home runs in the regular season.
• The senior outfielder leads the conference in slugging percentage (.763), on-base percentage (.506), hits (63) and stolen bases (25)
• Nester ranks sixth in the SoCon with a .373 batting average, while her 59 hits ties for third in the conference and her 14 doubles ties for second.
• The Phoenix were out-hit 395-346 by opponents this season, but stole 69 bases compared to opponents 52 once they reached base.
• Elon's pitching is anchored by Kayla Caruso (10-12) as she made 27 appearances in the circle with a 3.46 ERA in 133.2 innings pitched.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
• Samford enters the tournament with a 4-6 all-time tournament record as this is only its third appearance.
• The Bulldogs are familiar with the play-in game as they were the No. 9 seed last season, taking on Furman in the single elimination game.
• Samford brings a 14-33 overall record and a 6-15 conference record info the tournament as its most recent win came against Furman as it defeated the Paladins 5-3 in game one before falling in the final two series contests.
• The Bulldogs have struggled offensivelty this season as no player posted a .300 batting average.
• Alex Adams leads the Bulldog offense with a .267 batting average and is tied with a team-high 36 hits.
• Freshman Megan Dowdy, who was named to the SoCon all-freshman team, ranks second on the team with a .261 batting average, adding 36 hits, four doubles and one triple in her freshman campaign.
• Samford has been out-hit 294-255 by opponents.
• After an injury to Mollie Hanson, Mischa Aldridge (2-4, 3.99 ERA), Shelby Scott (5-15, 4.20 ERA) and Caitlin Bice (0-6, 3.55 ERA) took over in the circle for the Bulldogs.
