JAGUAR SOFTBALL CLINCHES SERIES WITH DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP AT APPALACHIAN STATE
BOONE, N.C. – The University of South Alabama softball team swept a doubleheader Saturday afternoon, defeating Appalachian State 4-0 in the opener and rallying back for an extra-inning 5-3 win at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium.
"I thought it was a great win for us and a great way to win it," South Alabama head coach Beck Clark said of the extra-inning comeback game-two win. "Our kids fought the entire time and I'm really proud of them; they showed a lot of guts. I thought [Destin] Vicknair did a great job in the circle; she battled back after allowing the home runs and kept us in it. Tonight was the hardest we've fought all year and it was good to see that and that's what South Alabama softball is all about."
South Alabama (22-12, 5-7 SBC) will close out the series on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m. (CT). Live stats and web streaming can be accessed at www.USAJaguars.com. Fans can also keep up with in-game Twitter updates via the softball program's official handle, @USAJagsSoftball.
Appalachian State falls to 12-20 on the spring and 0-8 in the Sun Belt with the two losses.
GAME ONE: SOUTH ALABAMA 4, APPALACHIAN STATE 0
In the opener of the doubleheader, the Jaguars picked up their first true road win of the season behind Devin Brown's complete game three-hit shutout as South Alabama picked up a 4-0 win.
The shutout for Brown was her ninth of the season and second-straight. In her seven innings of work, Brown struck out five and walked just one.
Kaleigh Todd led the way at the plate with two hits – her 14th multi-hit performance of the season – while six other Jags also recorded a hit in the win. Kristian Foster drove in two runs and she has now driven in 11 runners in her last 11 games. Amanda Minahan and Savanna Mayo also had a RBI.
Appalachian State starter Vanessa Ciocatto (1-7) took the loss as she allowed four runs on eight hits in five-plus innings.
South Alabama broke a scoreless tie with three runs on four hits in the top of the third. USA loaded the bases on a fielder's choice and then back-to-back singles by Megan Harris and Todd. The infield single by Todd extended the junior second baseman's reached base safely streak to 12 games. The Jaguars then recorded a pair of two-out hits to get on the scoreboard. Foster doubled to the gap in left center to bring in Harris and Todd and Minahan then drove in the third run of the inning as she reached on an infield single when App State first baseman Haley Stewart was forced to field the ball to score Nichols from third and put the Jaguars up 3-0.
App State would have its best scoring opportunities in the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth, Natalie Orcutt led off with a double off the wall in center and then Ally Walters then reached when she was hit by a 1-2 pitch from Brown. The Jag right-hander though battled back getting Katie Matthewson to strike out swinging and Jenny Dodd to foul out to left to get out of the inning.
App threatened to get on the board again one inning later placing runners at first and second with one out, but Brown again settled down, getting Mountaineer pinch hitter Taylor Rivenburgh to strike out swinging and Orcutt to ground out to first.
Jag designated player Destin Vicknair began the top of the sixth with a double that dropped in between Sidney Russell at short and Gabby Burato in left. USA then put runners at the corners on Abby Krzywiecki's infield single back up the middle and Mayo followed with a RBI single to right center, extending the Jag led to 4-0. South looked as if it might do more damage, but Mountaineer reliever Katie Williford came in and retired the next three South Alabama batters.
App State would get a one-out double off the bat of Haley Stewart in the seventh, but Brown didn't allow anything else as she picked up her 11th win of the season.
GAME TWO: SOUTH ALABAMA 5, APPALACHIAN STATE 3 (8 inn.)
In the nightcap, South Alabama rallied from a three-run deficit with five unanswered runs – four coming in the final two innings – to defeat Appalachian State 5-3 in eight innings.
Haleigh Lowe and Harris led USA at the plate as they were both 2-for-4, while four other Jaguars recorded a hit. The No. 1-5 hitters in the South Alabama lineup each scored one run. Foster, Minahan, Lutticken and Harris each had a RBI in the win.
Vicknair (10-5) pitched a career-high 8.0 innings in the win, allowing three runs on six hits, and the Jag senior also added three strike outs.
Kenzie Longanecker fell to 8-8 on the year as she also went the distance, giving up five runs – two earned – on nine hits, six walks and six strike outs. Longanecker wasn't helped by her defense as the Mountaineers committed six errors in the loss.
Orcutt and Ally Walters each had two hits apiece, while Walters drove in two of App State's three runs.
South Alabama had a scoring opportunity in the first inning as Todd reached and advanced to second on a pair of Mountaineer errors. After moving to third on a ground out, Loganecker got a pair of fly outs to end the threat.
Runners left on base would be part of the story for most of the game as the Jags stranded 15 in the contest.
App State made USA pay for not capitalizing on the scoring opportunity scoring a pair of runs. Orcutt led the home half of the first off with a single back up the middle and two batters later, Vicknair fell behind 3-1 in the count and Walters put App State on the board first with a two-run home run over the scoreboard in left center – her third of the season.
The Jaguars had another chance to get on the board in the third, placing runners at first and second after a leadoff single by Harris and a full-count walk for Nichols. Loganecker's defense helped her out for the second out of the inning as Orcutt made a great catch in center to rob Foster of base hit. The freshman then got Minahan to strike out swinging for the final out of the inning.
With one out in the bottom of the fourth, Jenny Dodd recorded her third home run of the as she lifted a ball to straight-away center, extending the Mountaineer advantage to 3-0.
South Alabama finally broke through with a run in its half of the fifth when Minahan doubled to left field with two outs to score Todd who had tripled to start the inning, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
Trailing by two runs entering the seventh, Foster quickly began the comeback as she blasted the first pitch she saw from Loganecker over the wall in center – her second home run of the spring – to pull South within one (3-2). Down to their final out, the Jaguars loaded the bases for the second-straight inning after walks to Minahan and Lutticken and a throwing error by Loganecker, allowing Lowe to reach. Harris drove the ball back up the middle, scoring Minahan to tie the game up at 3-3.
In extras, Nichols walked on four-straight pitches – her second free pass of the game – and then moved into scoring position when she stole second. With two outs, Loganecker looked as if she was going to get out of the inning without allowing a run, but Burato dropped Krzywiecki's liner, allowing Nichols to come around and score. USA later added an insurance run on Lutticken's RBI-single down the left field line, plating Krzywiecki and extending South's lead to 5-3.
Walters reached on a two-out single in the bottom half of the eighth, but Vicknair got Matthewson to ground out to third to end the game.
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Cajuns Offense Overwhelms Eagles Leading to Sweep
STATESBORO, Ga. – 17th-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball produced double digit totals in runs and hits in both games of Saturday's Sun Belt Conference doubleheader with Georgia Southern at Eagle Field and captured a 15-0 (5 inn.), 10-2 (6 inn.) sweep.
Louisiana (25-5, 8-0 Sun Belt) piled up 13 hits in reaching 15 runs in the opener. In the backend of the twinbill, the Ragin' Cajuns added 10 more runs and 11 hits to the day's ledger.
Lexie Comeaux, DJ Sanders and Kassidy Zeringue led the charge with four hits apiece for the day. Comeaux and Sanders each posted two multiple-hit games (two hits both games) while Zeringue collected a three-hit game for the second straight Saturday (3-for-4 in Game 2).
Comeaux and Sanders both homered and both posted four RBI to pace the offense in the series-opening triumph. Alex Stewart, Macey Smith and Kylee Jo Trahan combined for a one-hit shutout, facing only one over the minimum.
Daniella Chavez used a run-scoring double and three-run home run, which put the game out of reach and extended the lead to 8-2 in the sixth inning, to post a game-high four RBI in Game 2. Freshman pitcher Alyssa Denham worked five innings and held the Eagles (15-18, 5-6 Sun Belt) to two runs off four hits.
The Ragin' Cajuns locked up the series victory which extends their school and Sun Belt Conference record of consecutive conference series won to 32 straight dating back to March 2013.
Louisiana also extended its current winning streak to a season-high eight games. At 8-0 in Sun Belt play, it's the best start for the Ragin' Cajuns since opening the 2014 league slate 10-0.
Saturday's sweep moved the Ragin' Cajuns to 5-0 on their current road trip which ends on Sunday with the series finale against the Eagles at 12pm (CDT).
Sunday's game can be heard in the Lafayette area on SportsRadio ESPN 1420-AM and worldwide on the RadioPup app. Links for a live video stream (fee applies) and live statistics, offered by Georgia Southern, can be accessed at RaginCajuns.com on the softball schedule page.
Game 1 – Louisiana 15, Georgia Southern 0 (5 inn.)
Louisiana set the tone early, grabbing a 4-0 lead in their first at bat as Sanders hit a two-run homer and two additional runs later crossed on the misplay of a Corin Voinchè grounder.
Haley Hayden opened the second inning with a solo home run for a 5-0 edge. That brought an end to Georgia Southern pitcher Dixie Raley's start. Raley was charged with five runs in an inning-plus worth of work.
Stewart started the game retiring the first seven Eagles hitters she faced. She wound up facing one batter over the minimum and recorded four strikeouts in three innings.
Heather Felt retired the first six batters she faced in relief of Raley to hold the deficit at five runs after three complete. Louisiana, though, would put the game out of reach with five-run frames in the fourth and fifth inning.
A two-run double by Sanders and run-scoring single by Chavez in back-to-back at bats in the fourth inning stretched the lead to 8-0 and chased Felt from the circle.
Infield singles from Kara Gremillion and Hayden, followed by an Aleah Craighton walk loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth inning and set the stage for a second consecutive five-run frame capped off by a three-run homer by Comeaux.
Smith and Trahan worked one hitless inning of relief apiece in securing the pitching staff's eighth shutout of the season.
Sanders' home run upped her nation-leading total to 17 and was her sixth in seven games to start Sun Belt play. She moved within one home run of equaling her career-best total (18) set just last season.
Stewart improved her career Sun Belt Conference record to 25-1 and claimed the 50th win of her career.
Game 2 – Louisiana 10, Georgia Southern 2 (6 inn.)
The homestanding-Eagles posted the game's first run with a two-out, solo home run from Morgan Robinson in the bottom of the first inning.
The Ragin' Cajuns responded with three runs in the second inning to take the lead for good. Comeaux and Voinchè singled to lead off, pinch runner Chelsea Lotief stole second base, and then Louisiana utilized ground balls to manufacture the runs. The go-ahead run came on a Kelli Martinez grounder to shortstop for the first of her season-high tying three RBI.
Denham held the Eagles scoreless their next three at bats and the Cajuns stretched the lead to 5-1 on Chavez's run-scoring double in the third inning and a bases-loaded walk by Gremillion in the fifth.
Emily Snider's RBI triple in the bottom of the fifth inning drew Georgia Southern within three runs at 5-2.
The first nine Louisiana hitters of the sixth inning successfully reached base leading to Chavez's three-run homer and a two-run single by Martinez which increased the lead to 10-2. The Eagles used three relief pitchers before being able to retire the side.
Chavez, who drove home two runs in the opener, ended the day with six RBI. She picked up her 10th and 11th multiple-RBI games of the season and increased her season RBI total to 33.
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GSU MOVES INTO SECOND PLACE WITH SERIES WIN AT TEXAS STATE
SAN MARCOS, Texas - Georgia State (24-12, 9-3 SBC) claimed the series at Texas State with a doubleheader split against the Bobcats Saturday in San Marcos.
Game 1: Texas State 7, Georgia State 5
Georgia State scored five straight runs after falling behind 7-0 in the first game Saturday, but the Bobcats held on to get the win. Brenna Skalski’s two-RBI double got the rally started for the Panthers who scored two in the fifth and three in the sixth.
Texas State was led by Ariel Ortiz who went 3-for-4 with two RBI. Quincy Charleston earned the win in the circle to improve to 5-1 on the year.
The loss ended Georgia State’s win streak at six games.
Game 2: Georgia State 4, Texas State 0
Georgia State won the series and took sole possession of second place in the Sun Belt standings with a big 4-0 win in the finale. Kinsley Jennings threw her first complete-game shutout as a Panther, giving up just four hits through seven innings to get her second win of the series.
In her last nine appearances, Jennings is 7-1 with an ERA of 1.10 through 51.0 innings of work.
Offensively, Morgan Brown capped off a good weekend with a 3-for-4 performance. For the series, Brown batted .462, going 6-for-13 with an RBI and a run scored.
Ivie Drake’s eighth double of the season put GSU on top 1-0 in the first. The Panthers would be held off the board until they pushed three across in the fourth inning with three hits and two Texas State errors.
Entering the series, Texas State had the best RPI in the conference, coming in at No. 34. The Bobcats were picked to finish second in the Sun Belt in the coaches’ preseason poll, two spots ahead of the Panthers. Since GSU joined the Sun Belt four season ago, GSU leads the series with Texas State 9-3.
Follow along with Georgia State on Twitter (@GSU_Softball) for the latest news.
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Bobcats Spilt Doubleheader With Georgia State
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State softball split a Sun Belt Conference doubleheader on Saturday with the Bobcats winning game one 7-5, then falling to Georgia State 4-0 in game two.
Texas State is now 25-8 on the season and 8-3 in Sun Belt play, while Georgia State ran its record to 24-12 overall and 9-3 against league foes.
Game One Recap
Texas State scored seven runs on 12 hits, including six with runners in scoring position, to defeat Georgia State 7-5 in game one of the day's doubleheader.
Ariel Ortiz led the Bobcats at the plate finishing 3-for-4 with a single, double and triple and two RBI. Alex Cruz also totaled two RBI as she was officially 1-for-2 with a walk. Christiana McDowell collected her fifth multi-hit game of the season with a single and double.
Quincy Charleston (5-1) totaled 6.1 innings in the circle, allowing only two earned runs, to earn the win.
Texas State scored the first runs of the game in the second, plating three. Corinna Liscano was the first to touch home, scoring on Kennedy Cline's double to the left-center field gap. Cline then scored on a Panther fielding error during a rundown between third and home. Cruz, who reached base on a walk, counted the Bobcats third run on Bailee Carter's RBI single to right.
The Bobcats added three more runs in the third to take a 6-0 advantage. McDowell led off the frame with a double and Ortiz immediately followed with a stand-up triple to plate McDowell. Jaelyn Young, Liscano and Haleigh Davis then reached in succession to load the bases. Alex Cruz took advantage to the bases loaded opportunity with a two RBI single up the middle.
McDowell made it 7-0 in the Bobcats' favor, scoring on Ortiz's RBI Double in the fourth. McDowell reached on her second hit of the game, while Ortiz tallied her third base knock in as many at-bats.
Georgia State cut its deficit to 7-2 with two run in the fifth. With the bases loaded and one out, Brenna Skalski doubled to left center to count the Panthers' first two RBI of the game. The Bobcats then turned to Jodi Paige Williams out of the bullpen. Williams responded with two ground outs to end the inning and strand GSU runners on second and third.
The Panthers shrunk the Bobcats' lead to 7-5 with three runs in the six. Back-to-back singles to lead off the inning were followed by Megan Litumbe's RBI double. GSU scored its next two runs via a RBI ground out and a sacrifice fly to right field.
Georgia State's Amanda Chance (5-4) suffered the loss, giving up four runs (three earned) in her 2.0 innings in the circle.
Game Two Recap
Georgia State downed the Bobcats 4-0 in game two. The Panthers scored one run in the first and three fourth inning to take the series win 2-1.
The Panthers' Kinsley Jennings was perfect through four innings in limiting the Bobcats to four hits in the shutout. She improved her record to 11-4 on the campaign.
Georgia State totaled eight hits in the game, including three in the three-run fourth. Of those eight hits, three belong to leadoff hitter Morgan Brown, who went 3-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored.
Texas State put runners on base in each of the final three innings, but could not advance past second.
Georgia State scored in the first inning for the 1-0 lead as Ivie Drake doubled to right center to bring home leadoff batter Morgan Brown. The Bobcats avoided a potential big inning by the Panthers as Rupp worked out of a no out, runners on second and third situation with a popup, ground out and inning-ending K.
The Panthers took advantage of two TXST errors and three infield singles to score three runs in the fourth for a 4-0 lead.
Texas State did not have a base runner until Jaelyn Young singled through the left side to lead off the fifth inning. Young would move to second two batters later as Kennedy Cline was hit by a pitch. However, GSU's Jennings kept the Bobcats scoreless with two fly outs.
The Bobcats again left two on base in the home half of the sixth as Jennings pitched around back-to-back TXST singles to escape the inning unscathed.
Randi Rupp (15-5) was saddled with the loss for the Bobcats. She pitched 7.0 complete, gave up only a single earned run and struck out seven.
UP NEXT
Texas State next plays host to Texas on Wed., April 5. First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on Spectrum Sports, available on channel 323 in Texas.
BOBCATS GO4THEGOAL BY LACING UP FOR PEDIATRIC CANCER AWARENESS ON APRIL 5
Texas State softball and baseball will support the Go4theGoal organization by participating in Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer games on April 5. Both games will be played in San Marcos with softball hosting Texas (6 p.m.) and baseball UTRGV (6 p.m.). Both program will wear gold shoe laces in support of the initiative. Fans are encouraged to wear gold to the games and will have a chance to donate to Go4theGoal's mission of improving the lives of children battling cancer by providing financial support, developing and implementing unique hospital programs, funding innovative research and granting personal wishes. For more information, visit GO4THEGOAL.ORG.
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Warhawks Split Doubleheader With Coastal Carolina
CONWAY, S.C. - The ULM softball team needed extra innings on Saturday but used a three-run ninth inning in game two to split a doubleheader with Coastal Carolina on Saturday afternoon in Conway, S.C. The Chanticleers took game one by a 3-1 score before the Warhawks won game two 6-3 in extras.
TURNING POINT
-With the game tied in the bottom of the fifth inning in game one, the Chanticleers saw Chelsea D’Avilar hit her second home run of the season to give Coastal a 3-1 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.
-In game two, the Warhawks used a trio of RBI singles by Sydney McKay, Melanie Coyne and Hunter Hogan in the ninth inning to give them the extra inning lead and the doubleheader split.
NOTABLES
-In game one, the Warhawks struggled to get bats going as they only strung together four hits, with two apiece coming off the bats of McKay and Coyne. Coyne picked up the lone RBI in the game.
-Coyne was saddled with the loss after giving up three runs, walking one and striking out three.
-In game two, the Warhawks bats came to life with their fifth outing of the season with 10 or more hits, highlighted by Jayden Mount’s three-hit afternoon. McKay and Hunter Hogan each had a pair of hits in the game.
- Megan Shaw scored three runs in game two, which included the go ahead run in the ninth for the Warhawks. McKay led the team with three RBI.
-Paige Porter came in out of the bullpen for the Warhawks and threw seven shutout innings in the second game, scattering two hits and striking out four while picking up her fourth win of the season.
UP NEXT
-The Warhawks will go for the series win on Sunday against the Chanticleers with an 11:00 a.m. CST first pitch from South Carolina.
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Softball Splits Day One Against UTA
TROY, Alabama – The Trojans returned home for a weekend conference series with UT Arlington. Troy (16-21, 4-8 SBC) split the games on Saturday as it fell 4-3 to the Mavericks in the first game, but bounced back to run rule UT Arlington 9-0 in five innings in game two.
Becca Hartley led Troy off with her 13th home run of the season to give Troy an early 1-0 lead. Hartley went 1-for-2 at the plate in game one. She scored one run and drove in two RBIs.
Troy's bats were stagnant through the next five innings as no Trojans could bring a run across the plate.
UT Arlington got on the board in the top of the fourth and took a 2-1 lead after two back-to-back doubles from Laura Curry and Whitney Walton. A SAC fly scored the second run for the Mavericks before the Trojans were able to get out of the inning.
The Mavericks continued to post runs as they scored two more in the sixth as an RBI double and single to left field gave the Mavericks a 4-1 lead.
The Trojans battled back in the final inning as they were able to bring in two more runs to cut the Mavericks' lead to one. Cassidy McDilda brought in the first run of the inning to score Erica Davis who got on base with a single to left field. Hartley took a hit by pitch to score the second run. With the bases loaded, the Mavericks got the play at the plate to get out the tying run before a fly foul ball ended the scoring opportunity for the Trojans.
Senior Rachel Rigney Brown earned the start for the Trojans in the circle in game one. She put in five innings of work before being relieved by Claire Graves. Rigney Brown took the loss and moves to 6-12 on the year.
Game Two: Troy 9, UTA 0
The Trojans showed up strong in game two to run rule the Mavericks 9-0 after five innings of play.
Meg Willis threw a shut out game in her first career start in the circle to move to 1-1 on the season. She only allowed three hits and walked one batter in her complete game of five innings.
Both teams were scoreless through the first two innings, but a Hartley RBI double put a Troy run on the board in the bottom of the third.
A huge fourth inning for the Trojans propelled Troy past the Mavericks. Meg Willis started things off with a single to center field. With the bases loaded, Logan Calhoun hit an RBI single and two additional Troy runs came in from a UT Arlington throwing error. Hartley followed that with her second double of the game, scoring two more runs for the Trojans. After a pitching change, Porter also hit a two RBI double to cap off the eight run inning for the Trojans.
UT Arlington was unable to answer in the bottom of the fifth after Troy gained all of the momentum in the previous inning to give Troy the five inning shutout win.
NOTEWORTHY
• Hartley leads the Trojans in batting average (.354), slugging percentage (.796), on base percentage (.483), runs scored (34), hits (40), RBIs (34), home runs (13), total bases (90), walks (22), and stolen bases (13).
• Logan Calhoun went 2-for-2 at the plate in game two with two runs and one RBI.
• Stephanie Snyder and Hartley lead the team with nine doubles on the season. Troy now has 50 doubles this season.
• Snyder now has 12 multiple hit games this season, a team high, and Hartley now has nine multiple RBI games.
• Madeline Porter has safely reached base in 15 consecutive games, a current team high and a career high.
• Troy tied its career high in double plays as they turned two in game two against the Mavericks.
• Meg Willis had a career high 11 put outs
• Madeline Porter had a game high seven assists
UP NEXT
Troy looks to take the series with UT Arlington in game three on Sunday, April 2 at noon before traveling to Lafayette, LA., for face the Ragin-Cajuns next weekend.
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SB: Walton Guides Mavs To Split
TROY, Ala. – A productive offensive performance by Whitney Walton helped push UT Arlington softball to a split with Troy on Day 1 of the Sun Belt Conference series on Saturday.
"We are still struggling with consistency," UTA coach Kristie Fox said. "But getting one today on the road puts us in a position to go out and try and compete for the series tomorrow."
With the split, the Mavericks improved to 18-17 overall and 4-7 in SBC play, while the Trojans moved to 16-21 and 4-8.
The Trojans drew first blood in Game 1, with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first, but back-to-back doubles by Laura Curry and Whitney Walton helped the Mavs tie the game up at one in the fourth.
Aileen Garcia gave the Mavericks the lead with a RBI sacrifice fly to score Walton two batters later.
Playing a part in all four UTA runs, Walton drove in the third run of the game with her second RBI double, scoring Krista Rude on the play. Garcia added her second RBI, driving in Walton again with a single to center.
With the Trojans threatening in the sixth, Kacey Everett, Shelbi Sikes, Mallory Foster and Walton helped the Mavs turn their league-leading 21st double play of the season to end the threat.
After surrendering the leadoff home run, Sam Clakley retired 17 of the next 21 batters until a couple of defensive miscues by the Mavs loaded the bases and brought the Trojans to within one in the seventh. A pop up to Garcia in foul territory at first base secured the 4-3 Maverick victory.
Sam Clakley went the distance in the circle, allowing three runs, one earned, while striking out two to improve to 13-9 on the year.
Both teams were held scoreless through the first two innings of play in Game 2.
The Trojans grabbed the 1-0 lead in the third, followed by an eight-run fourth, handing the Mavericks the 9-0, five inning loss.
Walton had a stellar day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI.
Rude and Walton recorded the only multiple-hit games of the day for the Mavs, each tallying two hits in Game 1. Curry and Walton each recorded a hit in both games.
UTA and Troy meet again tomorrow in the rubber match of the series with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m.
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Mountaineers Fall to South Alabama in SBC Doubleheader
BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State University softball dropped a pair to South Alabama on Saturday night in a conference doubleheader at the Swyassink/Lloyd Family Stadium.
After two time changes that saw the doubleheader get pushed back from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Apps (12-20, 0-8 SBC) got shut out by the Jaguars (22-12, 5-7 SBC) 4-0 in game one and slipped to USA 5-3 after holding the lead for five innings. Natalie Orcutt and Ally Walters turned in multiple-hit performances going 3-for-7 and 2-for-5 respectively. Orcutt continued her hitting streak extending it out to nine-straight ballgames, and in game two, both Walters and Jenny Dodd rocketed out their third home run of the season.
Three Mountaineers made appearances in the circle for 15.0 innings pitched, and App State struck out nine Jaguars and only walked three in game one.
Game One: South Alabama 4, App State 0
South Alabama’s three-run third inning and tough pitching aided in blanking the Apps 4-0 in the opening game.
Vanessa Ciocatto neutralized the Jaguar defense posting two scoreless frames, but USA loaded the bases at the top of the third and scored three runs on a two-run RBI double and a RBI single.
The Apps tried to strike up some momentum offensively at the bottom of the fourth with Orcutt whacking out a double to dead center and Walters reaching on a hit by pitch, but the Mountaineers couldn’t connect to bring the two home.
In the following inning, the Mountaineers threatened to score again with Keri White drawing a walk and Sidney Russell smacking a single to put two one, but App Sate was stopped short of scoring due to USA’s solid defense.
Then at the top of the sixth, the Jaguars extended their lead to 4-0 with a RBI single to center field which put the game out of reach.
In the circle, Ciocatto (1-6) pitched 5.0 innings and struck out two batters and Katie Williford came in relief and pitched 2.0 scoreless innings and struck out one.
Game Two: South Alabama 5, App State 3 (8 innings)
Despite a three-run deficit, the Jaguars rallied back into the game to overcome the Mountaineers 5-3 in extra innings.
App State jolted onto the board early after Walters blasted a home run that flew over the scoreboard to bring along Orcutt, who reached on a single, for the 2-0 lead.
At the bottom of the fourth, Dodd bombed a solo jack that bounced off the Sofield Indoor Facility to extend their lead to 3-0.
Then at the top of the fifth, the Jags cut Appalachian’s advantage to two runs after a RBI double and threatened to score loading the bases at the top of the sixth, but App State’s defense stopped the Jags in their tracks denying all their scoring attempts.
In the seventh, the Jags rallied back into the game opening their half of the inning with a solo home run and tied the game at three apiece with a RBI single, which pushed the game into extra innings.
At the top of the eighth, USA snatched their first lead of the game scoring two runs to take the 5-3 advantage and held off Apps’ offensive attacks to take the doubleheader sweep.
Kenzie Longanecker (8-8) pitched her fourth complete game in 8.0 innings, registered six strikeouts and fired out a game-high 189 pitches.
Up Next
App State softball will wrap up their conference series with South Alabama tomorrow, April 2 at noon at the Swyassink/Lloyd Family Stadium.
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Softball Drops Doubleheader to No. 17 Louisiana
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern softball team dropped its series opening doubleheader with No. 17 Louisiana on Saturday afternoon. The Ragin' Cajuns took game one, 15-0 in five innings and game two, 10-2 in six innings. The Eagles (15-18, 5-6 SBC) will host the final game of the series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. ET.
GAME ONE: LA 15, GS 0 (5)
The Ragin' Cajuns struck early and often in game one, plating five runs within the first two innings. Louisiana was able to add on to that lead by scoring another five runs in both the fourth and fifth inning, implementing the run rule and defeating the Eagles 15-0 in five innings.
India Davis had the only hit of the game for Georgia Southern in the bottom of the third. Dixie Raley (L, 9-12) was tabbed with the loss, starting the game but throwing only one inning. Heather Felt, Amanda Chambers and Kaylee Ramos each pitched in relief.
GAME 2: LA 10, GS 2 (6)
The Eagles jumped out to the lead in the first inning of game two when Morgan Robinson knocked her sixth homerun of the season, a solo shot over the center field wall. The Cajuns scored three in the second inning to take the lead and tacked on another run in both the third and fifth.
Senior Emily Snider knocked a RBI triple in the fifth inning that scored Mekhia Freeman from first. The Cajuns responded by scoring another five runs and taking a 10-2 lead, bringing the run rule into effect and finishing the game in six innings.
Emily Snider had two hits while Mekhia Freeman and Morgan Robinson each had one. Kierra Camp (L, 5-6) got the start for the Eagles and went 4.1 innings in the circle. Dixie Raley, Kaylee Ramos, Heather Felt and Amanda Chambers all finished out the game for Georgia Southern in relief.
UP NEXT:
The two teams will wrap up the series with the rubber game on Sunday starting at 1 p.m. ET.