Story Courtesy Appalachian State sports information
Appalachian State 4-5, Charleston Southern 2-1
CHARLESTON, SC ? Appalachian State University softball extended its winning streak to five games with a sweep of Charleston Southern in a non-conference doubleheader Friday afternoon at Buccaneer Field. Appalachian slugged out nine hits in the first game, a 4-2 win, while the pitchers combined to throw a two-hitter in the second game, a 5-1 victory. The two wins improve Appalachian’s record to 19-20 overall.
Pitchers Kayla Richardson (West Jefferson, N.C.) and Keri Blackwelder (Stanfield, N.C.) combined to hold Charleston Southern to just two hits in the second game. Richardson got the starting nod and pitched the first three innings before she was relieved by Blackwelder. Blackwelder also helped her cause with a solo home run. Her batterymate, Kristyn Hurt (Siler City, N.C.) also hit a two-run home run to propel the Apps to victory.
Hurt’s home run in the top of the fourth gave ASU its first two runs and the Mountaineers tacked on another two in the top of the fifth on a solo home runs from Ashley Gaston (Roswell, Ga.) and Blackwelder to take a 4-0 lead. ASU added another run in the seventh on an RBI single from Lindsay Glover (Greensboro, N.C.). The Buccaneers got their only run in the bottom half of the seventh inning on a home run from Dorothy Page.
The first game of the day saw freshman southpaw Yancy Moose (Hamptonville, N.C.) win her fourth consecutive game as she gave up two runs in six innings of work in a 4-2 win. The Gaston sisters combined to go 4-for-7 with two RBI and a run in the win.
The Buccaneers took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on an RBI single from Jennifer Brooks. However the Mountaineers took the lead with two runs in the top of the fourth inning on a Natalie Willis (Cherryville, N.C.) fly ball and a double from Brittany Gaston. CSU tied the contest in the bottom of the fifth on another RBI single, this one from Amy Trenkamp to tie the game at 2-2. Appalachian got the game-winning runs in the top of the sixth inning on an error by the pitcher and another RBI from Brittany Gaston later in the inning.
The Bucanneers made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh, leading off with a single that prompted ASU to relieve Moose in favor of Teri Fister (Summerfield, N.C.). Fister allowed a hit and walk to load the bases with two outs, but pitched out of the jam, striking out the last batter to earn her third save of the season.