Game One Box Score - South Alabama 4, Appalachian State 0.pdf
Game Two Box Score - South Alabama 5, Appalachian State 3 (8 inn.).pdf
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.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
Join the Bullpen Club, the softball specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. Members have access to purchase parking passes and receive Jaguar Softball gear. All donations to the Bullpen Club go directly to support the South Alabama softball program. For more information on how you can join visit: jaguarathleticfund.com/bullpenclub
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