Softball Southern Conference

Appalachian State Takes Two from Elon in Softball Action Monday

April 9, 2007 - BOONE, N.C. ? Appalachian State University softball belted out a combined eight home runs to sweep visiting Elon in a Southern Conference doubleheader at the ASU softball stadium Monday afternoon.

The Mountaineers cruised to a 14-9 win in the first game and won the second, 5-4, on a solo home run from Diana Cook. Six Apps hit roundtrippers with Kristyn Hurt, Keri Blackwelder and Brittany Gaston hitting two each.

In the fist game, ASU (14-26, 6-5 SoCon) hit a school record five home runs and also set a new record with 14 runs as the squad jumped out to an early 9-1 lead before Elon (22-20, 6-5 SoCon) closed the gap with a five-run fifth inning via Jaimie Rao’s three-run shot down the left-field line. All five runs in the frame were unearned.

The Apps sealed the game in the bottom of the sixth with a three-run homer from Hurt, followed by a solo shot from Blackwelder. Blackwelder helped her own cause with her second longball of afternoon as she earned the win after giving up one earned run in 4.2 innings. Carol Lilley suffered the loss for Elon.

The second game was played much tighter as Elon’s Paige Goss scored on a groundball out in the first inning and the Phoenix held that advantage until the fourth inning. Brittany Gaston tied the game in the bottom half of the inning with her second home run of the day, this one over the right-center field fence.

Elon added two more runs in next inning off Tracey Dahlen’s two-run homer and ASU countered with a three-run shot in the bottom half of the inning off of Ashley Gaston’s bat. The Phoenix tied the game in the top of the sixth with a solo home run from Melanie Helterbrann.

However, one more ball would leave the park with Cook blasting the game winner to right center to give ASU its first doubleheader sweep of the Phoenix. Teri Fister got the win in relief for ASU while Samantha Schroeder took the loss.

The sweep also moved ASU into a tie for third place in the SoCon standings with Elon heading into the conclusion of the three-game series on Tuesday. First pitch at the ASU Softball Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.