Power Surge Drives Apps to First Sun Belt Win
BOONE, N.C. - Not even a two hour, 10 minute rain delay could slow Appalachian State University softball, as sophomore Heather Josey went 2-for-3 on the day, hitting two screamers beyond the fence to drive in three of the Mountaineers' four RBI to defeat UL Monroe 4-1.
App State then went back-to-back as Cara Parker joined the home run party with a solo shot deep into left that put the game further out of reach. That blast gave Parker three on the season, Josey leads the team with five and the Black and Gold hit three home runs in a game for the first time this season. For the Weekend Appalachian hit six home runs to up their season total to 15, one-third of last season's total.
"I'm very proud of our team this past weekend," said head coach Janice Savage. "We made great strides and grew a lot over the last three games. We have some things we still need to continue to work on, but for our first weekend out in Sun Belt play, I am very pleased."
Josey has been on a tear lately as she has raised her average from .195 to .281 since March 5. During that span, the right-handed hitter is a combined 10-of-23 (.435) with six runs scored, 11 RBI, three doubles, and four home runs. That .281 average puts her in a tie for third on the team with Megan Walker.
Savage continued, "Our girls fought and played with passion all weekend. We learned from our mistakes Saturday and made adjustments on Sunday. We will continue to practice hard this week and carry this momentum into our midweeks and next weekend's series."
The Mountaineers (5-19, 1-2 Sun Belt) earned their first conference win, an improvement over last season where the first league win came on April 12. Despite being the "home team," the Warhawks (14-10, 2-1 SBC) dropped their first conference game of the year, after winning both in yesterday's doubleheader.
Annaleise Kennedy was credited with her first-career save and Vanessa Ciocatto (3-9) earned the win after throwing four innings with one earned run surrendered on four hits. The junior hurler walked four batters and struck out two. As a team, ULM had 24 hits in yesterday's twinbill, but only five in today's contest.
Both Kennedy and Ciocatto combined to hold one of the Sun Belt's best hitters, Rochelle Roberts, hitless for just the fourth time this season. Prior to Sunday, Roberts was riding a seven-game hitting streak and had recorded at least one hit in 18 of her last 19 games. She entered the weekend with a conference-best .563 batting average that was also seventh-best in the nation.
Kennedy tallied the Mountaineers' first save in nearly a year with three innings of one-hit ball and, lately, she has been Appalachian State's hottest pitcher. Since March 5, the freshman has lowered her ERA from 8.18 to 5.43 and continues to creep up on the team low in that category. In her last five appearances, Kennedy has a 2.23 ERA in 22 innings pitched with six free passes and 12 punchouts.
Next up, App State will host Campbell for two on Wednesday with first pitch in game one set for 4 p.m. at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium. The Mountaineers and Camels met on March 5 as part of the Camel Stampede and Appalachian State came out on top, 16-9.
----------
Mavericks drop final game of Maverick Classic, 8-0
ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington (19-2) fell for the second straight time, dropping an 8-0 decision to Samford (12-11) in five innings on Sunday morning in the final game of the Maverick Classic.
"The team had a lot of energy this morning, we just didn't play our best," UTA coach Kristie Fox said. "We hit the ball hard and they made the plays, and they hit the ball hard and we didn't make the plays. That's the difference between yesterday and today."
After facing the minimum in the first, freshman right-hander Samantha Clakley (9-1) ran into trouble in the top of the second. After an infield single, Samford followed with a long double to right-center and a two-run single to center to take a 2-0 lead.
In the third, the Bulldogs plated three runs before the first out was recorded, as the first five batters reached base courtesy of a hit batter, fielding error, bunt single, walk and a two-run single.
Samford tacked on a sacrifice fly and another RBI base hit to make it a five-run inning and stretch the lead to 7-0. Samford was able to shorten the game to five innings after posting a single tally in the fourth off Brooklynne Simbeck.
Clakley worked three innings, allowing seven runs (five earned) while walking one and striking out a pair in her first collegiate loss. In relief, Simbeck gave up one unearned run on one hit and a walk over two frames.
Samford's Jessica Stone (5-3) limited the Mavericks to singles by Sandra Mendoza and Britnea Barilli in the shutout. She walked two and fanned two.
"We're going to back to work hard this week," Fox said. "We learned a lot this weekend about what we need to do to get better. We have to be mentally and physically prepared to play again Thursday."
UTA returns to Allan Saxe Field Thursday with a double header against Cleveland State beginning at 1 p.m. The Mavericks will begin the Sun Belt Conference season at home Saturday with a three-game set against No. 5 Louisiana.
----------
Georgia Southern Wins Series Over Texas State with 5-4 Victory Sunday
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Georgia Southern softball team used another big offensive explosion in the first game of a Sunday doubleheader to claim the Sun Belt Conference series over Texas State, winning the first game 5-4 at Bobcat Softball Stadium. The Bobcats were able to win the second game 2-0 despite another great defensive effort from the Eagles that saw them hold Texas State to just three hits.
Game 1 – GS 5, TXST 4
Similar to Saturday's Sun Belt-opener, the Eagles (14-8, 2-1) wasted little time jumping all over the Bobcats (18-7, 1-2) in the top of the first inning as senior A.J. Hamilton knocked a single to left field to score both Taylor Rogers and Emily Snider, giving the Eagles the early 2-0 lead.
From there, the Eagles continued to get timely hits at the plate, racking up 11, and complimented that with another stingy defensive effort that didn't give up a run until late in the game.
The Eagles added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the fourth inning when Rowan McGuire scored on a throwing error by the Texas State third baseman. Rogers followed that up by batting in Alesha Mann with a single to left field to set the score at 4-0.
Texas State was able to score its first runs of the day in the bottom of the fifth inning when Kendall Wiley and Kimberlin Naivar walked in a pair of runs before the Eagles ended the scoring threat.
Georgia Southern tacked on another run in the top of the sixth inning when Snider reached safely off an error by the Bobcat shortstop, an error that allowed India Davis to easily score from third.
For the Eagles, Kierra Camp (5-4) got the start and pitched 4.1 innings en route to earning the win while Dixie Raley secured her second save of the season in one and two-thirds inning of work. Heather Felt pitched the other full inning in between.
Paige Williams (5-2) was the pitcher of record for Texas State, going 3.2 innings while Quincy Charleston came in to finish the final 3.1 innings.
At the plate, Lydia Witkowski continued her solid weekend by going 2-for-4 and was matched by both Mann and Hamilton. Mann was one of five Eagles to score while Hamilton had her pair of RBI.
For Texas State, Taylor Webb went 2-for-3 at the dish with a run scored as the Bobcats finished the game with five hits.
Game 2 – GS 0, TXST 2
The day's second game started off with Texas State scoring first with a single run in the bottom of the first when Corrina Liscano hit a single RBI to left field to score Kelli Baker from second.
After that, it was a true defensive struggle as the game progressed scoreless for the next four innings.
In the top of the sixth inning, Davis broke up Randi Rupp's no-hitter when she hit a single to just in front of the diving Texas State left fielder. After that, Rogers and Hannah Farrell each broke through for hits in the seventh inning.
The Bobcats added on a run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Ariel Ortiz hit a double to right-center field, scoring Kayleigh Norte.
Raley (9-4) got the start for the Eagles in the second game and pitched six innings of three-hit ball that saw her strike out four batters, especially at crucial moments. Rupp (12-4) claimed the win in the circle for Texas State, pitching all seven innings.
COACH SMITH SAYS
"It's always great to win a series, especially on the road. Texas State is a good team that plays great defense and has good pitching, so I am really happy for the team to get the first series win this weekend. I thought we did a lot of good things today and competed well in both games, especially on defense. We've worked really hard in the off-season and into the early part of this season on our defense and the team has done a lot of good things. Playing good defense is what is going to keep us in a lot of games and all weekend we played well in the field."
UP NEXT
The Eagles will next travel to College Station on Tuesday, Mar. 15 where they will take on nationally-ranked Texas A&M in a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 2:30 p.m. Eastern standard time.
----------
Bobcats Split With Georgia Southern Sunday
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State softball team earned its first conference victory of the season in game two of the Sunday doubleheader against Georgia Southern. The Eagles snagged game one by a score of 5-4 before the Bobcats came back to win game two by a 2-0 margin.
Randi Rupp earned her 12th victory of the season in the complete game shutout in game two. She struck out nine while not allowing a walk. The Bobcats improve to 18-7 with the victory Sunday and they are 1-2 in Sun Belt Conference play.
Game One
Georgia Southern, much like game one Saturday afternoon, took an early 2-0 lead over Texas State after the first inning. The Eagles used a pair of hits and a walk to load the bases for AJ Hamilton who singled to left field and scored two.
A double to left field in the first by Bianca Prado set the Bobcats up with a runner in scoring position. She made it as far as third before the Eagles retired Corrina Liscano on a bullet line drive to the shortstop for the third out of the inning.
The Bobcats had a chance in the second to get momentum in their favor. Back-to-back drawn walks by Kendall Wiley and Taylor Webb to start the inning followed by a sacrifice bunt by Kimberlin Naivar put runners on the corners with one out. A pair of strikeouts by the Georgia Southern, however, got the Eagles out of a jam.
Georgia Southern added two more in the fourth. Three straight singles loaded the bases for Lydia Witkowski who reached on a fielder's choice and scored Rowan McGuire. A single to back up the fielder's choice play scored the second run of the inning and the Eagles took a 4-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Texas State capitalized on pitching miscues by Georgia Southern. With one out, four straight Bobcats walked to score the first run of the day. Then with two outs and the bases loaded, Kimberlin Naivar drew the fifth walk of the inning to cut the Georgia Southern lead down to two, 4-2.
After Georgia Southern added one more in the top of the sixth, Texas State scored one of its own. With runners on first and second and one out, Ariel Ortiz hit a ball to right field and Kayleigh Norte tagged up. A throwing error by the right fielder resulted in the throw getting past the third baseman and Norte went on to score.
A diving catch in right center field to end the sixth by the Georgia Southern right fielder halted the 'Cats rally.
A triple to lead off the seventh by Webb followed up by a sacrifice fly by Naivar scored the fourth Bobcat run of the day. That would be as far as the 'Cats rally would go as the Eagles retired the next two Bobcats at the plate.
Webb led the 'Cats offensively as she finished the game going 2-for-3. Naivar led the team with two RBIs and Liscano and Wiley each drew two walks. Paige Williams was handed her second loss of the season after putting in 3.2 innings of work for Texas State.
Game Two
Texas State took its first lead of the series in the first inning of game two. With two outs and Baker on second, Liscano singled through the left side and Baker came around to score. A single by Webb followed up by a drawn walk by Wiley loaded the bases with two outs. Georgia Southern once again got out of the jam by forcing a fly out to right.
The Bobcats had a chance to score in the bottom of the third as the Georgia Southern pitching staff walked a pair and put Wiley on base by hitting her. A fielder's choice play to get the lead runner at home was the second out of the inning and a strike out looking ended the inning.
In the top of the sixth with two outs, Rupp's perfect game was broken up on a bloop single in left field that landed just out of reach. A running catch back toward the fence by Bianca Prado in centerfield for out number three saved the potential scoring run from crossing home.
Texas State added one more in the sixth off the bat of Ortiz. With Norte standing on third after drawing a walk, moving to second on a sacrifice bunt, and advancing to third on a wild pitch, Ortiz hit a double to right center to give Texas State a 2-0 lead.
Georgia Southern threatened to score in the top of the seventh, but a clutch strikeout with runners on second and third by Rupp to end the game put a stop to the Eagle rally.
Ortiz, Liscano, and Webb recorded the three Bobcat hits in game two and Webb ended the day with three hits to lead Texas State offensively.
Texas State will now be on the road for the next five games, starting with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in two single games on Tuesday and Wednesday. First pitch against the Islanders on Tuesday is scheduled for 3 p.m. and on Wednesday it's slated for 1 p.m.
----------
GSU Takes Series with 6-2 Victory
TROY, Ala. – Georgia State opened the conference slate with a 2-1 series win against Troy this weekend, defeating the Trojans 6-2 on Sunday thanks to three RBI from senior shortstop Taylor Anderson.
Georgia State fell behind in the second inning when Troy’s Erica Davis knocked a solo home run over the left field wall. The Trojans took a 2-0 lead in the third inning before the GSU offense struck for five runs in the fifth. The big blow came on a hard-hit ball by Anderson with the bases loaded. The first baseman couldn’t handle the hit and two runs crossed the plate, giving GSU the advantage for good.
Georgia State added an insurance run in the sixth as Anderson singled down the right field line to score Ivie Drake from second and put GSU on top 6-2. Freshman Amanda Chance recorded the win, her second of the season. Chance went five innings and gave up no runs on just three hits.
The Panthers visit Kennesaw State Tuesday before hosting a doubleheader with Western Carolina on Wednesday.
----------
Cajuns Storm Back Twice for Sweep of South Alabama
LAFAYETTE – The No. 5-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns softball team executed a pair of comebacks in claiming a Sun Belt Conference-opening doubleheader sweep of South Alabama on Sunday at Lamson Park by scores of 3-2, 10-6 in front of 1,937.
The sweep extended the Ragin' Cajuns (19-1, 2-0 Sun Belt) winning streak to 13 games and gave the squad the series victory over South Alabama (10-10, 0-2 Sun Belt) for the third straight season.
Trailing 2-0 in the opening game after the Jaguars scored twice in the first inning, the Ragin' Cajuns drew even in the fourth inning on solo home runs by Lexie Elkins and Aleah Craighton.
Shellie Landry provided the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the fifth on a single into left center that scored Kassidy Zeringue who reached on a fielder's choice and later stole second base to move into scoring position.
Alex Stewart finished with a season-high tying nine strikeouts in improving to 9-0 on the season. She held the Jaguars (10-10, 0-2 Sun Belt) scoreless over the final six innings.
Elkins' home run increased her nation-leading total in 2016 to 15 home runs and marked the 71st of her career tying her with Holly Tankersley for second place in school history.
In Game 2 South Alabama scored in the first inning again, this time plating three runs. The visitors eventually built a 6-2 lead after a two-run home run from Amanda Minahan in the fifth inning.
Louisiana stormed back in the bottom half of the sixth inning, erupting for eight runs to snatch the victory from the Jaguars.
An RBI single by Haley Hayden, two-run single by Landry and throwing error which allowed Hayden to score pulled the Cajuns into a 6-all tie. After a single by Elkins, Kelsey Vincent broke the tie when she took the first offering from USA reliever Devin Brown into left field to score Landry.
Craighton put the exclamation on the rally by following Vincent's single with a three-run home run to right center, her second homer of the doubleheader, to extend the lead to 10-6.
Kylee Jo Trahan, who was relieved by Stewart with no outs three batters into the first inning, re-entered the circle in the top of the sixth inning and retired all six Jaguars hitters she faced.
No. 5 Louisiana remains at Lamson Park and closes out its current homestand on Wednesday, March 16 in a 6 p.m. single game against McNeese State. The squad then takes in their first road games of the Sun Belt slate Saturday-Sunday, March 19-20 in Arlington, Texas.
BASES NOTED: Lexie Elkins (71 career home runs) is now five home runs shy of the NCAA career Top 10 list…Alex Stewart is now one win shy of equaling last season's 10-0 start…Kelsey Vincent had a 10-game hitting streak, a career-best, snapped in the opening game of the doubleheader…South Alabama's early leads marked only the third and fourth time through 20 games that the opposition scored first…Louisiana has now won the past three games in which the opponent scores first…For the second straight weekend, Aleah Craighton homered in both games of a doubleheader (March 5 at Southern Miss)…Craighton has now hit a home run in four of the past five games dating back to the March 5 doubleheader at Southern Miss…Louisiana has hit at least one home run in 16 of 20 games this season, posting multiple home runs 11 times…The Cajuns defense was solid again, committing only one error in the doubleheader and has only three miscues over the past nine games (211 chances)…The 10 strikeouts by South Alabama's Devin Brown were the most by an opposing pitcher this season and marked only the fourth time in 20 games that the Cajuns batters struck out five or more times…Louisiana increased its all-time series lead over South Alabama to 24-11…The Cajuns are now 15-2 at Lamson Park vs. the Jaguars…Louisiana now holds a 21-7 edge in regular season Sun Belt contests with South Alabama…The Cajuns won the Sun Belt series from the Jaguars for the seventh time in 10 weekend sets.