BOONE, N.C. ?Appalachian Softball took their third consecutive victory over the Western Carolina Lady Catamounts on Monday afternoon, 9-1. The Mountaineers notched their second run-rule win of the series and fourth of the season by beating Western. Appalachian improves to 3-0 in the Southern Conference and remains in first place.

ASU wasted no time in taking the lead by scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. With two-out and two-on, sophomore Meagan Squartino laced a double to centerfield, scoring freshman Katie Boyd and junior Brittany Gaston. Squartino finished the game with two hits and two-RBI.

In the third, the Apps added four more runs, all with two outs. The first run of the inning came when the Western Carolina pitcher walked four straight batters to score Squartino. Senior Natalie Willis cleared the bases one batter later with a double to centerfield. Her three RBI at bat raised her season total to four.

Junior Kayla Richardson had another superb outing with a six inning victory. She allowed only one run over six hits. The West Jefferson, N.C. native struck out two a day after setting a career high for strikeouts and walked two.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Apps added three more runs to end the game. A Squartino double pushed freshman Sarah Rappe and Boyd across the plate. One run from victory, senior Tiffany Hensley got the call to pinch hit. She scored on the next play off a double from Stephanie Long to end the game.

Squartino’s four RBI and Willis’ three RBI days were good for career highs.

Lauren Ross led Western Carolina with two hits and an RBI.

Richardson improves to 3-7 on the season. ASU now leads the all-time series with Western Carolina, 10-3.

Appalachian will travel next for a weekend series at College of Charleston. ASU will open the series, to be held at the Patriots Point Athletic Complex, on Friday (March 21) with a 5 p.m. doubleheader. Western Carolina visits North Carolina A&T Thursday in a non-conference doubleheader, slated to begin at 2 p.m.