MOBILE, Ala. – Appalachian State used a three-run fourth to propel itself to a win as the Mountaineers defeated the University of South Alabama softball team Sunday afternoon, 5-2 at Jaguar Field to take the series finale.
UP NEXT
- South Alabama (8-16, 2-1 SBC) will head to Baton Rouge, La., for a midweek contest versus fourth-ranked LSU on Tuesday night. First pitch versus the Tigers is set for 6 p.m. at Tiger Park.
Date: 3/8
Place: Jaguar Field (Mobile, Ala.)
Final Score: Appalachian State 5, South Alabama 2
Records: Appalachian State (12-9, 1-2 SBC), South Alabama (8-16, 2-1 SBC)
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- MC Nichols and Kassidy Wilcox each went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Jaguars in the loss, while Allie Hughen also had a pair of hits in her three at-bats.
- Kamdyn Kvistad also reached base twice with a single and a walk.
- Kelsie Rivers pitched three innings of scoreless relief for South as she retired the first seven batters she faced and only allowed one baserunner (walk).
- Taylor Thorp drove in a pair of runs for Appalachian State, while Sidney Russell and Delaney Smith also had a hit and a RBI, with the latter recording her first home run of the season.
- Kenze Loganecker picked up her fourth win of the season with the complete-game effort. In her seven innings in the circle, Loganecker didn't allow an earned run and struck out seven.
GAME FACTS
- The Mountaineers took advantage of a couple of defensive miscues by South in the top of the second and pushed across an unearned run without the benefit of a hit. After an error allowed the leadoff batter to reach, Caylie Kifer reached on a fielder's choice and then stole second to move into scoring position. Kifer then came around to score and give App the 1-0 lead on a two-base throwing error trying to get Gabby Buratto out at first.
- South tied the game back up at 1-all with an unearned run of its own as Emma Kropp scored all the way from first base on a two-base throwing error by Thorp trying to get Hughen out to end the inning.
- Appalachian State answered back with a run and retook the lead (2-1) in its half of the third as Russell delivered a two-out single to center, scoring Baylee Morton from second, who had walked and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch.
- Smith led off the fourth with a home run over the wall in left center to extend the Mountaineer advantage to 3-1. Appalachian State later loaded the bases and added to its lead on Thorp's two-run double to center, making it 5-1 for the visitors.
- The Jaguars got a run back in the bottom half of the inning to cut the deficit to three (5-2). Flynn laid down a bunt single just in front of the plate to begin the inning and Wilcox followed with a single of her own to put a pair of runners on base. Flynn later stole third and came around to score on Hughen's single to center.
- South tried to get a two-out rally going in the bottom of the sixth loading the bases after singles by Hughen and M. Nichols and a walk to Brasher, but Loganecker was able to get a pop out to short to end the inning and keep the Jags off the scoreboard.
- In the seventh, the Jaguars brought the tying run to the plate with two away as Kvistad walked to start the frame and Wilcox singled to right, but Loganecker was able to get a pop out on the infield to end the game.
NOTES
- Sunday's series finale marked the 150th regular-season game against a Sun Belt Conference opponent at Jaguar Field.
- With her first-inning single, Kvistad extended her one-base streak to a career-best 13 games.
- Finnical made her first appearance of the spring entering in relief for the Jags to start the fourth.
- Hughen drove in at least one run all three games of the series versus the Mountaineers.
THEY SAID IT
Head coach Becky Clark
- On the series finale:
"I thought today we couldn't seem to get the bit hit when we needed it. We had been able to do that throughout the weekend, but today it didn't happen for us. There are still some things to clean up defensively. We have to keep working on not giving up the big inning because that is what got us today. We out hit [Appalachian State] nine to five, but unfortunately we couldn't get the one that we needed. Give them credit. [Kenzie] Longanecker deserves credit for making big pitches in big situations. She dug in and worked out of situations where we could've broken the game open. Credit to her she is a good pitcher. For us we have to learn from this and get ready for Tuesday."
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. 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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