LAFAYETTE – 16th-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball captured the 2017 Sun Belt Conference championship on Senior Day at Lamson Park following a 9-0 (5 inn.), 13-4 (5 inn.) doubleheader sweep of Coastal Carolina.
 
The Ragin' Cajuns (38-6, 19-1 Sun Belt) earned the program's fourth consecutive Sun Belt Conference championship and 15th in the 17 seasons of league competition since 2001.
 
Louisiana also clinched the No. 1 seed – and bye from first round play – in the upcoming Sun Belt Conference Tournament being held May 10-13 in Troy, Ala.
 
Senior Haley Hayden moved into a tie with Nerissa Myers for the program record for career runs scored (243) after crossing home plate four times in the twinbill.
 
Louisiana and Coastal Carolina (29-21, 7-15 Sun Belt) are scheduled to complete the weekend series at 1 p.m. on Sunday, weather permitting. The game can be heard in the Lafayette area on SportsRadio ESPN 1420-AM and worldwide on the RadioPup app. A live video stream and live statistics is available at RaginCajuns.com.
 
Alex Stewart picked up both wins, improving her season Sun Belt record to 12-0 and her career SBC mark to 33-1. Stewart limited Coastal to two hits, struck out six and combined with fellow senior Victoria Brown for a shutout in Game 1. She then tossed three innings of relief in Game 2, yielding just one earned run and three hits after replacing Alyssa Denham in the second inning.
 
Daniella Chavez delivered a pair of multiple-RBI games and totaled four RBI on the day. Aleah Craighton teamed with Chavez to boost the offense in the opener, tallying three RBI and hitting a two-run homer in the fourth inning to reach the run-rule margin. Lexie Comeaux provided the big bat in the nightcap, netting a career-high six RBI off a two-run single and grand slam.
 
Louisiana reached double digits in runs for the 10th time in 16 games in April. The offense scored six-plus for the 33rd and 34th time through 44 games (34-0 record).
 
Adding in the 22 runs scored on Saturday, the Ragin' Cajuns have produced 62 runs over the past five Sun Belt outings (scored 40 in Georgia State series).
 
The recent trend of big first innings got Louisiana started on the way to the opening victory. The first eight batters reached base before an out was recorded and by the time the first putout was made six runs had crossed the plate.
 
After Kara Gremillion and DJ Sanders singled, Hayden drew a walk to load the bases. Walks to Craighton and Comeaux brought home the first two runs. Chavez then floated a two-run single into right field – the first of three straight singles that pushed the early margin to 6-0.
 
The Chanticleers lone threat came in the third inning after a two-out bunt single from Taty Forbes followed by a double from Adriana Toro placed runners at second and third. Stewart induced a grounder from Kailey Mellen to close the frame unharmed.
 
An RBI ground out from Gremillion increased the lead to 7-0 in the bottom of the third. Two batters into the fourth inning the scoring was completed as Hayden led off with a single into left field and Craighton deposited a two-run homer over the right field wall.
 
Brown worked around a pair of one-out walks to close out the pitching staff's 11th shutout of the season. After a pop up from Toro, she fanned Mellen for the final out.
 
Forbes led off Game 2 with a bunt single, stole second and scored on a Mellen sacrifice fly as Coastal took the lead in the first at bat.
 
Chanticleers starter Ashley Guillette came within a strike of keeping the early momentum on her team's side. However, Comeaux connected on a 1-2 pitch and looped a single into shallow center field to score Sanders and Hayden, who both walked, for a 2-1 lead.
 
A Chavez RBI double after a dropped foul ball made it 3-1 before the first inning finished, then the Ragin' Cajuns ran away from Coastal with a pair of five-run frames.
 
Guillette was a victim of two-out production again in the second inning. A two-out bases-loaded walk issued to Craighton kept the inning alive for Comeaux who hit a line drive grand slam into the left field bleachers to extend the lead to 8-1.
 
Coastal received a home run from Mellen in the top of the third inning. Louisiana's second consecutive five-run inning followed in the bottom half and led to an early finish of the contest.
 
Hayden opened the scoring in the third inning with an RBI single and later scored on a wild pitch, a run which tied her with Myers for the program's career record for runs scored.
 
The Chanticleers took advantage of a pair of two-out errors by the Cajuns defense in the fourth inning to plate two unearned runs and cut the deficit to 13-4. Senior Macey Smith worked a 1-2-3 fifth inning to finish off the sweep.
 
DIAMOND NOTES
- Louisiana and Coastal Carolina met on the softball diamond for the first time in program history.
- The Ragin' Cajuns extended the school and Sun Belt Conference record of consecutive conference series won to 36 straight (dates back to March 2013).
- Prior to the start of the doubleheader, the Ragin' Cajuns 2017 senior class was recognized in a pregame ceremony. The nine seniors include: Sarah Arceneaux, Victoria Brown, Haley Hayden, Kendall Smith, Macey Smith, Alex Stewart, Taylor Terrio, Corin Voinche and Kassidy Zeringue.
- Louisiana has now scored in the first inning 22 times this season. The squad has produced 31 runs in the first inning over the past five games (since Georgia State series).
- The Ragin' Cajuns hitters drew 19 walks in the doubleheader (season-high 13 in Game 2). Louisiana has drawn 241 walks which moves the team ahead of Auburn (236) for the national lead.
- The Ragin' Cajuns have been one of the nation's most productive offenses in April. The squad has piled up 163 runs off 154 hits in 16 games during the month. Since April 1, Louisiana is batting .376.
- Haley Hayden is closing in on the program's career Top 5 hits list. She added two more hits on Saturday to push her career total to 265 which leaves her 11 shy of fifth place (Jana Mower, 276).
- Alex Stewart improved her season record to 19-3. The senior hurler is one win away from posting her second straight 20-win season (went 29-6 in 2016).
 

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Bobcats Rake In Doubleheader Sweep Of Troy

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State bats launched five home runs, totaled 15 base hits with 10 going for extra bases as the Bobcats won both games of its doubleheader against Troy 12-0 and 4-3, respectively.
 
Texas State is now 37-11 on the season and 16-6 in Sun Belt play, while Troy moves to 20-31 overall and 8-16 against league foes.
 
Game One Recap // Texas State 12, Troy 0 (5 inn.)
 
Taylor Webb, Corrina Liscano and Ariel Ortiz each hit home runs and Randi Rupp faced two over the minimum as Texas State rolled to a 12-0, five-inning win in game one of the doubleheader.
 
The Texas State lineup produced its 12 runs on 10 hits with six going for extra bases. Ortiz, Webb, Jaelyn Young and Christiana McDowell each tallied multi-hit games with Liscano, Webb and McDowell collecting multiple RBI.
 
R. Rupp worked the full 5.0, throwing 61 pitches for the her ninth complete-game shutout. She struck out seven and allowed only two hits in improving her record to 23-7.
 
Webb spotted the Bobcats with a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first with her three-run shot into the Bobcat bullpen beyond the left-field wall. Liscano and Ortiz scored on the blast after walking and doubling to right center, respectively. The homer was Webb's 10th of the season.
 
Back-to-back solo homers by Liscano and Ortiz with two outs in the second pushed the Bobcats' lead to 5-0. Liscano, like Webb, deposited her blast into the TXST bullpen, while Ortiz sent her shot out 15 feet left of straightaway center. Liscano's round-tripper was her second of the year, while Ortiz's was her school-record 14th of the season and extended her TXST career record to 32.
 
Texas State scored three more in the third for an 8-0 lead. McDowell doubled home Kennedy Cline and Sierra Steimel, who was pinch running for Young, for her 16th and 17th RBI of the year. McDowell later advanced to third on a wild pitch and came home on Bailee Carter's RBI grounder to third.
 
The Bobcats added an additional four runs in the fourth for the 12-0 final. Ortiz scored on Sara Rupp's bases-load walk, Webb added a run on a wild pitch, Young was drove home by McDowell's single through the middle and S. Rupp came around to score on Liscano's bases-loaded walk.
 
Rachel Rigney Brown (7-16) suffered the loss for the Trojans, giving up five earned runs and six hits in her 1.2 innings in the circle.
 
Game Two Recap // Texas State 4, Troy 3
 
Taylor Webb and Ariel Ortiz Each homered to lead the Bobcats' to a 4-3 win over the Trojans in game two.
 
Webb collected her round-tripper in the first and Ortiz hers in the fourth as the duo accounted for two of TXST's four hits and three of the Bobcats' four RBI.
 
Quincy Charleston (8-1) started and earned the win, going 4.0 innings with two strikeouts and allowing only one run. Jodi Paige Williams came on in the fifth with a runner on first and TXST holding a 4-1 lead and worked the final 3.0 innings to earn the save.  
 
Like she did in game one, Webb gave Texas State an early lead with a first-inning homer to left. The two-run blast, which scored Jacklyn Molenaar from second, marked Webb's 11th home run of the season, tying her for fifth on the TXST single-season list.
 
After a scoreless third Texas State doubled its lead to 4-0. Ortiz crushed a solo shot to center for her 15th homer of the season. Two batters later Jaelyn Young doubled home Webb, who had drawn a two-out walk.
 
Troy trimmed the Bobcats' lead to 4-1 with a run in the top of the fourth. Kaylee Hussey singled through the right side to collect the RBI as Stephanie Snyder scored from third.
 
The Trojans scored two runs in the seventh on an odd play for the 4-3 final. Taylor Corbett doubled down the left-field line where the ball was misplayed, allowing Carli Kayler to score from first. Corbett was also awarded home on the play due to an obstruction call between first and second base.
 
Claire Graves was charged with the loss, giving up all four Bobcat runs (two earned) on five hits.
 
UP NEXT
Texas State and Troy conclude the three-game series with a single game Sunday (April 30) at noon. Immediately following the series finale, seniors Quincy Charleston, Alex Cruz, Lexi Fryar, Corrina Liscano, Kimberlin Naivar and Jodi Paige Williams will be honored on the field for their accomplishments and contributions to Bobcat softball.
 
FOLLOW THE BOBCATS
For all of the latest news and information on Bobcat softball, visit TXSTATEBOBCATS.com. Fans can also follow the program on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/TXStateSoftball along on Twitter (@TXStateSoftball) and Instagram (@TXStateSoftball).
 
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Softball Grabs First-Ever Sun Belt Series Victory

BOONE, N.C.  – For the first time in school history, Appalachian State University softball snatches a Sun Belt Conference series victory downing UTA in a doubleheader, 2-0 and 3-2, on Saturday, April 29 at the Sywassink/Lloyd Family Softball Stadium in Boone.

“I thought that we threw very well today,” said head coach Janice Savage. “I thought Vanessa pitched great in the first game and Kenzie came in and closed it out. I thought Kenzie gutted it out a lot in game two, especially going the full seven. We made it interesting there in the seventh inning in the second game, but I was proud to see us close it out and finish the game. I would like to see fewer errors tomorrow, but I am excited for us to get back on the field.”

Appalachian State (14-30, 2-18 SBC) snapped an 18-game skid on Saturday and picked up their first conference win since edging the Mavs (25-22,11-12 SBC 4-3) 4-3 on April 3, 2016. The Black and Gold also seized their first conference series win since App downed Furman in 2014. Also, game one's 2-0 victory is the first time the Mountaineers shut out a Sun Belt foe since joining the conference in 2015.

Game One: App State 2, UTA 0

App State's tough pitching and sound defensive performance silenced the Mavs in game one, as Megan Walker's two-run RBI was enough to down the Mavericks 2-0.

A pitcher's duel dominated the first two and a half innings until Keri White smacked out the first hit of the game. Right after that, Sidney Russell drew a two-out walk to put two on for the Mountaineers. After an illegal pitch had advanced the runners to third and second, Walker knocked the freshmen home to end the third up by two.

At the top of the sixth, the Mavs put up their best offesnive inning threatening to score with two on base, but a flyout stranded the pair to end the inning.

With three outs left to take game one, Longanecker neutralized UTA's offense retiring the batters in order to blank the Mavericks, 2-0.

White highlighted the offense with a perfect 2-for-2 output and scored one run.

Ciocatto (2-10) set the tone for the Apps in the circle limiting the Mavs to one hit and one walk. Then at the top of the sixth, Longanecker came in relief for the save holding the Mavs to two hits and did not give up any walks.

Game Two: App State 3, UTA 2

Despite a seventh inning rally by the Mavericks, Taylor Rivenburgh's two-run RBI in the fourth was enough to hold off UTA to extend App State's win streak against the Mavs to three-straight games.

App State jumped on the board first off a sac. fly by Haley Stewart for the early 1-0 lead at the end of the second.

At the top of the third, the Mavericks were eager to take the lead with two runners in scoring position, but Longanecker pulled the Apps out of the tight situation with a strikeout.

In the fourth, Heather Josey opened the bottom half crashing out a single through the left side, and Ally Walters and Stewart loaded the bases drawing back-to-back walks. After Maddy Bloom, who pinch ran for Josey, was tagged out heading home on a fielder's choice, Rivenburgh pinched in and paved the way for two to dash home for the 3-0 advantage.

Down by three, UTA was in dire need of striking up something offensively and cut App State's lead to 3-2 scoring off two consecutive RBI at the top of the seventh, but Longanecker's cat-like reflexes stopped UTA from scoring again, throwing the batter out at first to edge the Mavs, 3-2.

Four ladies crashed out hits in game two and Longanecker (9-11) pitched her seventh complete game in 7.0 innings and struck out two in the process.

Up Next

App State softball will wrap up conference play with UTA tomorrow, April 30 at noon at the Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium. Before the start of game three, we will recognize seniors Vanessa Ciocatto, Katie Mathewson and Cara Parker.

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LITUMBE HITS THREE DINGERS IN DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP

ATLANTA - Georgia State (30-20, 15-8) won both games of Saturday's doubleheader against UL Monroe, defeating the Warhawks 3-2 in Game 1 and 5-2 in Game 2. GSU looks to sweep the Warhawks with a Senior Day win on Sunday.
Megan Litumbe paced the Panthers offense Saturday, going 4-for-6 in the two games with three home runs and four RBI. Litumbe now has a team-high 17 homers on the year and continues to hold the school record with 48 long balls.

Game 1: GSU 3, ULM 2

Mandy Blackwell was the hero in Game 1 as she walked off the Warhawks with a game-winning sac fly RBI in the bottom of the seventh. Blackwell went 2-for-3 in the game with two RBI.

Kinsley Jennings pitched a great game, going the distance while allowing just one earned run. Jennings improved to 15-10 on the season with the complete-game performance.

Litumbe and Kensey Caldwell each had extra-base hits in the game as Litumbe homered and Caldwell hit her 14th double of the year.

Game 2: GSU 5, ULM 2

Game 2 was Mandy Chance's time to shine in the circle, as she also threw a complete-game and earned the win to improve to 7-5 on the year. Chance struck out two and also gave up only one earned.

Georgia State used the long ball in Game 2 as Litumbe went yard twice and Remington Hasty launched her 5th homer of the season. Caldwell also tallied her 15th double and Ivie Drake had a good day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double.

ULM tied the game in the top of the sixth at 2-2, but the Panthers pushed three runs across in the home half to secure the doubleheader sweep.

With the Game 2 win, Georgia State moved to 30-20 on the season. The Panthers have now won 30 or more games in 11 straight years.

As Georgia State celebrates Senior Day Sunday, the Panthers will also be looking for a series sweep over UL Monroe. On the year, the Panthers have lost only once at home during Sun Belt play, boasting a 10-1 record versus Sun Belt opponents at the Heck Softball Complex this season.

Follow along with Georgia State on Twitter (@GSU_Softball) for the latest news.

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CCU Falls at 16th Ranked Louisiana

LAFAYETTE, La. – Coastal Carolina’s softball team headed to Louisiana to face the Sun Belt-leading and 16th ranked Rajin’ Cajuns of Louisiana and the nationally-ranked Cajuns took a double header from the Chants 9-0 and 13-4.

Game 1

It didn’t take long for the 16th team in the nation to get on the scoreboard as the Rajin’ Cajuns scored six runs on five hits and three walks in the first inning, sending 11 hitters to the plate.

Louisiana then added a run in the third and two more in the fourth to push the lead to 9-0.

Taylor Rahach (12-8) picked up the loss for CCU.

Taty Forbes and Adriana Toro had CCU’s two hits.

Game 2

The Chanticleers opened the scoring in game two as Forbes led off the game with a single.  She stole second and came around to score on a Kailey Mellen sacrifice fly.

The Ragin Cajuns came right back in the bottom of the inning and took advantage of an error, wild pitch and passed ball to score three runs in taking a 3-1 lead.

ULL added five runs, four on a grand slam, in the second to push its lead to 8-1.

CCU was able to add a run in the top of the third when Mellen hit her sixth home run of the season, clearing the right field fence.

The home team kept scoring runs in the bottom of the third, pushing five runs across the plate on four hits and four walks to lead 13-2, which would end the scoring for ULL.

The Chants did add two runs in the top of the fourth on rbi singles from Buccilli and Forbes to cut UL’s lead to 13-4, but could not get any closer.

Forbes had two of the Chants four hits, with Buccilli and Mellen picking up the other two hits.  Ashley Guillette (11-9) picked up the loss.

CCU is now 29-21 overall and 7-15 in conference play while ULL runs its record to 38-6 and 19-1 in the Sun Belt. The final game of the three-game series is set for tomorrow at 1 p.m.

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Troy Softball Falls to Texas State

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Trojans faced Texas State in a doubleheader on Saturday at the Bobcat Softball Statdium in San Marcos. The Bobcats took game one 12-0 in five innings. The Trojans fought back in game two, but dropped 3-4 after a late seventh inning rally came up short.
 
Game one: Troy 0, Texas State 12
Strong pitching from Sun Belt Preseason Pitcher of the Year, Randi Rupp, powered the Texas State Bobcats over the Trojans 12-0 in five innings.
 
A three run home run from Texas State's Taylor Webb in the first inning put the Trojans in a hole early. The Bobcats added to their lead in the bottom of the second with back-to-back home runs to go up 5-0 on the Trojans.
 
Carli Kayler put Troy's only two hits up with a bunt down the first base line, but a groundout to the shortstop ended the half inning for the Trojans. She followed up with a double to right field in the top of the fifth to provide a spark for the Trojan offense, but the last chance effort fell short of a run.
 
A two-RBI double in the third inning and an RBI groundout extended the Bobcat's lead to 8-0. Four more runs came across for Texas State in the bottom of the fourth to give them the final 12-0 lead.
 
Rachel Rigney Brown got her 20th start in the circle, but was relieved by senior Meg Willis after allowing five earned runs in 1.2 innings of work. Peyton Glover entered the game in the bottom of the fourth to close out the game.
 
Game two: Troy 3, Texas State 4
 
Another home run from Texas State's Webb gave the Bobcats a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Ariel Ortiz, Texas State's all-time home run leader, blasted another homer on the day to give the Bobcats a 3-0 lead through three.
 
Stephanie Snyder led off the fourth inning with a base hit, and a sacrifice bunt from Madeline Porter advanced her to second. Erica Davis ripped a single through the third baseman and shortstop gap to send Snyder to third. Kaylee Hussey continued the fourth inning hit streak with a shot into left field bringing Snyder home before a strikeout ended the campaign.
 
The Trojan defense came alive in the bottom of the fourth as they did not allow another run to come across the plate for the remainder of the game.
 
Down three heading into the top of the seventh, The Trojans needed to rally. With one out, Kayler came through with a bunt single to get a runner on. Taylor Corbett stepped up to the plate with two outs. She singled down the third base line, but was able to touch all of the bases after a Bobcat fielding error and obstruction allowed her to advanced to second and score on the throw. Two runs were scored, but a fly foul ball ended the opportunity for the Trojans.
 
Claire Graves earned the start in the circle, her 21st of the season and threw her 10th complete game of the year. She only allowed two earned runs with two walks and one strikeout. Graves takes the loss and moves to 8-9 this season.  
 
NOTEWORTHY
• Six different Trojans put up a hit in game two. Snyder, Hussey and Kayler all went 1-for-3 with one run scored.
• Peyton Glover made her first appearance in the circle since the Trojans faced UL Lafayette on April 8.
•The Trojans added to their conference-leading double total tallying up one more as Kayler hit her fifth of the year.
 
UP NEXT 
Troy will close out the series with Texas State on Sunday, April 30. First pitch is set for noon. The Trojans will return home to host their last regular season conference games with a doubleheader against South Alabama on May 7 at 1 and 3 p.m.

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Softball Drops Pair to Georgia State on Saturday

ATLANTA, Ga. -  The ULM softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Georgia State, as the hosts walked off with a 3-2 win in the opening game before the Warhawks fell by a 5-2 score in game two.

TURNING POINT

-In the opening game, Georgia State loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning to set up a sacrifice fly and bring in the inning run.

-ULM used a run in the top of the sixth inning in game two to tie the game, but saw Georgia State answer with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning off of a two-run home run and an error to take the lead for good.   

NOTABLES

-In game one, the top four in the lineup - Sydney Mckay, Cheyanne Lyon, Jayden Mount and Hunter Hogan - each recorded a hit, while Samantha Agamaite, Sami Billeaudeau and Megan Shaw also contributed one hit apiece.

-Trailing 1-0, ULM used a squeeze bunt by Melanie Coyne to score Victoria Pederson in the top of the third inning and tie the game. Hunter Hogan singled to left field to open the fourth inning and later scored on Agamaite's double to give ULM a short lead, as Georgia State tied things up with a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth and then walked off in the bottom of the seventh inning.

-Jessie Watts was saddled with the loss after pitching the final two innings of the contest, allowing six hits and the winning run to score. Paige Murray and Rachael Murphy also saw time in the circle in game one, allowing five hits and two runs combined over 2 2/3 innings of work.

-Watts and Jayden Mount recorded two hits apiece to combine for four of the ULM's five hits in game two. Agamaite notched the only other Warhawk hit.

-ULM took the lead in the top of the third inning on a sacrifice fly from Hunter Hogan that scored Cheyanne Lyon before Georgia State answered in the bottom of the third with a solo home run. After the hosts took the lead with a second solo homer in the fourth, ULM tied the game in the top of the sixth when Agamaite singled and scored on Sami Billeadeau's RBI ground out, but Georgia State plated three runs on four hits, including a two-run homer, to take the lead for good.

-Coyne was saddled with the loss after five innings of work, allowing five runs on six hits with three strikeouts. 

UP NEXT

-The Warhawks and Georgia State wrap up the weekend series on Sunday afternoon with a 12:00 CST start from Atlanta.

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Softball Drops Doubleheader to South Alabama

MOBILE, Ala. – The Georgia Southern softball team dropped a series doubleheader to South Alabama on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles (24-24, 12-11 SBC) were swept on Saturday by the Jaguars (30-18, 12-12 SBC) after a 7-0 loss in game one and 6-2 loss in game two. The Eagles will look to bounce back in the final game of the series on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. ET, 12 p.m. CT.


GAME ONE – USA 7, GS 0 
South Alabama struck first, plating a run in the second inning off of a base hit from Megan Harris. The Jaguars held the 1-0 lead until the sixth inning, where they were able to score a total of six runs and extend their lead to 7-0.

Sophomore Dixie Raley got the start in the circle, throwing the first 5.1 innings while striking out ten batters. Heather Felt, Amanda Chambers, and Kaylee Ramos came in relief to finish out the game in the circle. Alesha Mann and India Davis recorded the only two hits for GS.


GAME TWO – USA 6, GS 2
The Jaguars plated three runners off of three hits in the first to take the early lead. Meredith McLendon hit a double and came around to score in the second after a wild throw allowed her to advance, making the score 3-1. The Jaguars continued to capitalize at the plate in the third inning, scoring another three runs.  

McLendon knocked her second double of the game in the fourth inning and Haley Carter followed it up with a single to bring runners on first and third. Lydia Witkowski hit an RBI single to right field to score McLendon but the Eagles were not able to find any further offensive production, making the final score 6-2.

McLendon and Witkowski led the way offensively with two hits while Mekhia Freeman, Shelby Wilson, Alesha Mann and Haley Carter each had one. Kierra Camp went the distance in the circle for Georgia Southern, throwing all six innings. The junior gave up four earned runs, striking out two.

UP NEXT:
The two teams will wrap up the series with the final game on Sunday starting at 1 p.m. ET, 12 p.m. CT.

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SB: UTA Offense Silent In Road Defeats

BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State took advantage of the limited opportunities between both teams to top UTA on Saturday at Sywassink/Llloyd Family Stadium in Sun Belt play.

The Mavericks (25-22, 11- 12 Sun Belt) entered as one of the hottest teams in the conference after winning five of their last six, but couldn't get the offense clicking on the road. Appalachian State took both in the doubleheader, winning Game 1, 2-0, and the finale 3-2. UTA continues to lead in the all-time series 5-3 despite the setback, but fell for the first time on the road in the series. App State improved to 14-29 after winning its first two Sun Belt games.

The teams conclude the three-game series on Sunday, first pitch is slated for 11 a.m. CT.

The Mavs picked up strong pitching performances from each of its starters. Sam Clakley, making her 30th start of the season, was prevented from earning her 20th win of the year as she went to 19-12 in picking up the loss in Game 1. Clakley struck out one, walked two and was on the hook for both earned runs in six innings pitched. Mariah Denson, making her fourth start of the year, struck out three of the first four batters she faced on the way to sitting down five. The freshman tossed four frames, while falling to 2-7.

In what turned out to be a pitcher's dual in Game 1, it was the Mountaineers that were able to scrap out a win. App State used a two-RBI bloop-single on two outs in the third that fell just beyond the stretched out glove of Sandra Mendoza.

The Mavs stranded five on the paths in the opener, with the team's three hits coming from Mendoza, Krista Rude and Aileen Garcia.

In Game 2, UTA stranded nine as App State gave the Mavs plenty of chances to push across a run. Four errors through the first six innings from the Mountaineers in the infield didn't come back to haunt the home team. The Mavs put runners on base in four of the first five innings, including three with a runner in scoring position.

The Apps picked up runs on a sacrifice fly coming in the second to right, and then another pair on a two-out base hit with the bases loaded in the fourth.

UTA attempted a late-inning comeback in the seventh. The Mavs picked up a run on the fifth error of the game and Whitney Walton doubled to center, however, after one run came in, UTA was thrown out at the plate for the second out of the frame. The Mavs would ground out to the pitcher with two in scoring position for the final out of the day.