Softball 4/14/2006 8:00:00 PM UNCGSpartans.com

Appalachian sweeps softball twinbill from UNCG

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

BOONE, NC Appalachian State was victorious in both games of a Southern Conference softball doubleheader over UNC Greensboro on Friday afternoon at Watauga High School.

The host Mountaineers scored twice in both the fifth and sixth innings to secure the 4-1 victory in game one. Freshman Stephanie Talarek put the Spartans on the scoreboard with a solo home run in the top half of the seventh inning.

Yancy Moose improved her record to 7-6 on the season after allowing only the one run on five base hits, while striking out three batters in 7.0 innings of work.

Brittany Gaston broke a scoreless tie in the fifth with a two-run double to centerfield to give Appalachian a 2-0 lead. Kristyn Hurt then led off the home half of the sixth with a solo blast to right, while Mary Lutz added the second run of the frame on an RBI single through the right side of the infield.

Talarek led off the seventh with her second homer of the season, but that was all the Spartans could push across in the inning. Vanessa Oakes (9-10) gave up four runs on nine hits and stuck out five ASU hitters in the loss.

Heather Branche went 3-for-3 to lead UNCG at the plate. Talarek and Adriane Audley each went 1-for-3 for the Spartans.

Lutz was 3-for-3 for ASU, while Gaston had two hits and two RBIs. Hurt's homer was her fourth of the season.

In the nightcap, Audley homered to lead off the game to put UNCG up 1-0 after one inning of play. The score remained unchanged until Lindsay Glover singled in the tying run in the third inning.

The Mountaineers then gave themselves some breathing room with three runs in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead. After UNCG starter Hannah Angel retired the first two batters on fly outs, Elizabeth Holbert walked. Gaston followed with a single that was not handled cleanly in left that allowed Gaston to go to third and Holbert to score from first base. Lutz promptly singled up the middle to score Gaston. Lutz later scored when she stole home on a double steal by the Mountaineers.

Oakes began the Spartan fifth with a double to left center and came around to score when Branche drove her in after reaching on an error by the Mountaineer shortstop.

ASU tacked on two more runs in the fifth to take what seemed to be a comfortable 6-2 lead. However, Talarek doubled, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a Kara Clouser fielder's choice in the sixth to make it 6-3.

UNCG certainly didn't go quietly in the seventh. Krista Judge singled and scored two batters later on an Audley double to left. Lyndsay Mouse followed with a double of her own to plate Audley and make it a 6-5 affair. Mouse went to third on a passed ball and represented the tying run, but Jennifer Bonilla grounded out and Talarek flied out to end the game and the UNCG rally.

Kari Blackwelder (7-9) garnered the victory after allowing two runs on three hits over 4.1 innings. Kristyn Fister struggled in her 2.2 inning of work, but got her fourth save of the year. She allowed three runs on four hits.

Angel (5-12) suffered the loss after allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits over 4.0 innings. Danielle Byrne worked two scoreless innings in relief.

Audley went 2-for-4 with two runs, two RBIs and her career-best fourth homer of the season.

Glover, Gaston and Natalie Willis each had a pair of hits for the Mountaineers.

UNCG and ASU put the finishing touches on their conference series on Saturday at 1 pm.

AGATE

Game One 123 456 7 R-H-E

UNCG 000 000 1 1-5-0

ASU 000 022 x 4-9-1

UNCG: Vanessa Oakes and Kelly Allen

ASU: Yancy Moose and Kristyn Hurt

W: Moose (7-6). L: Oakes (9-10). SV: None.

Game Two 123 456 7 R-H-E

UNCG 100 011 2 5-7-2