GREENSBORO, NC – Appalachian State hit a pair of three-run home runs in a seven-run seventh inning to take a 7-0 win over UNC Greensboro on Saturday. Game two of the Southern Conference doubleheader was postponed by rain until Sunday.
UNCG (11-16, 3-4 SoCon) will now face the Mountaineers (14-16, 7-3 SoCon) for a doubleheader starting at noon Sunday.
UNCG starter Cory Mattson (1-2) and App State starter Kayla Richardson (8-8) both had two-hitters heading into the seventh, but things quickly went downhill for the Spartans.
Mattson induced a popped up bunt from Brittany Gaston for the first out, but Stephanie Long and pinch-hitter Meagan Gaston drew consecutive walks to bring Andrea McIntyre to the plate. McIntyre blasted her second home run of the season out to left field to break up the shutout.
Sarah Rappe singled and Megan Rembielak walked to keep the rally going, and after Katie Boyd's looping lineout to left, Michelle Lighton singled through the left side to bring in Rappe. Morgan Price followed with another three-run home run, her fourth of the year, to chase Mattson.
Hannah Angel came out of the bullpen and struck out Gaston looking to end the inning.
Richardson was cruising for the Mountaineers, as she took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, retiring 13 in a row at one point. She sat down the side in order in the seventh to lock up the win.
The Spartans left a pair of runners in scoring position in the second inning, as Mary Catherine Vercoe led off with a walk and was safe at second on Alex Emeterio's sacrifice bunt attempt. A Whitney Sirois sacrifice moved up both runners, but Richardson got a popup in shallow right and a groundout to escape the jam.
Brittany Ausley broke up the no-hitter in the bottom of the sixth, dropping a bloop single into shallow center just off the glove of a diving Rappe. Kaitlin Merkt hit a single to left one out later to put runners at first and second with two down, but Richardson got a grounder from Vercoe to end the frame.
Richardson allowed just two hits and a walk in seven innings of work, striking out five.
Mattson allowed seven runs on six hits and five walks in 6.2 innings. She struck out seven.
The freshman had a solid outing early, not allowing a hit until the fourth inning. Rembielak had the Mountaineers' first hit of the game, leading off the frame with a blooper that dropped in behind Mattson.
AGATE
Appalachian State 7, UNC Greensboro 0 (Mar 28, 2009 at Greensboro, NC)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Appalachian State... 000 000 7 - 7 6 0 (14-16, 7-3 SoCon)
UNC Greensboro...... 000 000 0 - 0 2 1 (11-16, 3-4 SoCon)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Appalachian State - Kayla Richardson and Michelle Lighton. UNC Greensboro -
Cory Mattson; Hannah Angel(7) and Whitney Sirois.
Win-Kayla Richardson(8-8) Loss-Cory Mattson(1-2) T-1:38 A-52
HR ASU - Morgan Price (4); Andrea McIntyre (2).
Weather: Overcast, rainy
- UNCG -
